Domestic game companies are venturing into new genres instead of resting on their existing key genres. Companies that primarily focused on massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) are entering live genres such as mobile casual and subculture, while companies that are centered on casual games are now moving into the MMORPG genre. Until now, game companies have solidified their positions by strengthening their main genres, but they have recently begun to challenge themselves to break through stagnation in growth and absorb global users.
According to the game industry on 21st, MMORPG powerhouse NCSOFT announced the establishment of a mobile casual center earlier this month. The company explained that it created an organization to diversify its global-centered game portfolio and secure competitiveness in the game business based on artificial intelligence (AI) technology and data. It has appointed Anel Chae-man as the center head, bringing in the new executive who previously handled the business sector at global mobile casual gaming companies such as TripleDot Studio and Outfit7.
Additionally, NCSOFT will publish the new subculture title 'Limit Zero Breakers,' currently under development by Big Game Studio, in the global market in the first quarter of next year. This game features a story set in the divided fantasy continent 'Seraphia,' exploring unknown worlds. It participated in the Japanese subculture event 'Niconico Chokaigi' in April, also targeting the Japanese market. The entry into mobile casual games and subculture genres is viewed as a strategic challenge for NCSOFT, which has traditionally grown around MMORPGs such as the 'Lineage' series and 'Aion,' in order to secure a new user base.
Another MMORPG powerhouse, Wemade, is also challenging new genres. Wemade announced that it will release the PC first-person shooter (FPS) 'Black Vultures: Prey of Grid' next year. Last month, Wemade conducted a global play test on Steam targeting users in North and South America. Through the highly popular FPS genre worldwide, Wemade expects to secure a broad user base. WEBZEN, known for its 'Mu' series in the MMORPG genre, is preparing to launch the subculture game 'Terbis.' WEBZEN conducted a closed beta test (CBT) for Terbis last month.
Com2uS, known for its strong performance in sports games like 'Com2us Pro Baseball' and casual games like 'Summoners War,' is expected to unveil the AAA-level (blockbuster-level) MMORPG 'The Starlight' in the third quarter of this year. The game combines elements of four narrative novels and will introduce a mode that integrates 'battle royale' into the MMORPG, the company stated. NHN, which was a strong player in online casual games centered on 'Hangame,' also plans to unveil the zombie shooting RPG 'Darkest Days' within this year. This game features the survival of various human figures existing in a zombie apocalypse world.
The reason domestic game companies are diversifying genres recently is because there is a sense of crisis as growth in the gaming industry has stagnated. The Korean gaming market has entered a phase of slowed growth, and large-scale MMORPGs from China are succeeding in the global market. It has become increasingly difficult to secure new user bases with the past growth model rooted solely in one intellectual property (IP) like 'Lineage' or 'MapleStory.'
An industry insider noted, 'Except for some large domestic game companies, performance has stagnated, so a transformation is necessary,' adding, 'Domestic game companies that have been centered around MMORPGs are now challenging themselves to diversify into genres like casual games.'