DRIMAGE, a game company under HYBE, joined hands with Bonfire Studios, led by core developers from Blizzard, to unveil a new PvP (player versus player) game, "Alkeron." As it made clear its strategy to use the Korean market—which nurtured global hits "League of Legends (LoL)" and "Battlegrounds (PUBG)"—as a testing ground, the industry is focusing on what results a collaboration between a domestic publisher and a global developer will yield.
DRIMAGE held a press briefing at Gen.G GGX in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 15th and unveiled a demo version of Alkeron for the first time. Attendees included DRIMAGE CEO Jeong Woo-yong and head of business Seo Chong-dong, as well as Bonfire Studios CEO Rob Pardo, game director Jeremy Craig, and chief operating officer (CSO) Min Kim. Alkeron is being developed with the goal of a simultaneous launch on PC and consoles, and the first hands-on demo with the press took place on site.
DRIMAGE used the name HYBE IM until early this year. As HYBE's gaming subsidiary with global artist IPs such as BTS, SEVENTEEN, and Le Sserafim, it had built a portfolio centered on mobile music games. The name change is not a simple rebrand but a strategic choice to strengthen publishing capabilities and expand the market. CEO Jeong emphasized, "Under the new name DRIMAGE, we will secure games across various genres and broaden our presence in the global market." It is a full-fledged bid to move beyond music-focused games and enter the large-scale online game publishing market.
Bonfire Studios, the developer of Alkeron, was founded in 2016 in Irvine, California. It is led by veterans from Blizzard Entertainment, and CEO Rob Pardo participated in the development of "World of Warcraft" and "StarCraft II." CSO Min Kim built experience in the North American online game market, and director Jeremy Craig also has a background working on Blizzard projects. Because these figures share Blizzard-style development philosophy and set up an independent studio, the industry has paid attention from the outset. Alkeron is Bonfire Studios' first large-scale project, and how their expertise translates into the game is a key point to watch.
Alkeron puts forward a unique universe of the "afterlife." Every character has already died in the real world and moves again based on memories and emotions from life. Players choose characters called "Eternals" to join the battle. Director Craig said, "Each character reflects its own story and personality, and while competition is paramount, we have built a narrative structure that aids immersion." CEO Rob Pardo also said, "New strategies emerge every day through item combinations and the flow of combat, and a single battle can be so intense that it stays with you all day."
The game's combat structure is clearly different from existing battle royale titles. Instead of a shrinking circular zone, a "Beacon" appears at a specific point on the map at set intervals. All teams must move to that point within the time limit, naturally triggering engagements along the way. Director Craig explained, "We designed it so that several small-scale fights repeat within a single match, capturing both tension and variability," and "we designed zones to become increasingly exposed so that teams that wait until the end aren't advantaged."
Alkeron adopts a top-down view that looks down on the battlefield, but incorporates "free aim" rather than auto-aim. Players must aim and land shots directly with a mouse or controller. Unlike traditional AOS-based MOBAs (multiplayer online battle arenas) that rely on simple click inputs, this adds the distinctive tension of shooting. CEO Pardo emphasized, "Fast-paced combat and intuitive controls are Alkeron's identity," adding, "On the surface it may look like a MOBA, but its DNA is closer to an action RPG and battle royale shooter."
The release schedule has not been set. CEO Pardo said, "It is too early to pin down a release window," and added, "We will set the schedule after gaining confidence based on playtest results." However, they are leaving the door open to an early access rollout.
The monetization model follows a seasonal operation. Director Craig explained, "Around 10 Eternals will appear each season, and some will be rotated out," adding, "The fun of discovering new characters and strategies will drive users to return." The process of exploring character and item builds itself, not just wins and losses, is the engine for replays, he said.
Alkeron is being developed with the goal of a simultaneous launch on PC and consoles. Internal tests have shown smooth operation with a PS5 pad, and pad players among the developers have ranked near the top, proving its competitiveness. Director Craig said, "To maintain cross-platform balance, matchmaking will be skill-based," and added, "We will implement a cross-play environment spanning PC and consoles." There is no prospect of a mobile port for now. CEO Pardo drew a line, saying, "Mobile implementation is technically challenging," and "we can review it depending on future success."
The strategy to target the Korean market has also been fleshed out. Among Bonfire Studios' overseas cases, DRIMAGE is the only publisher it has partnered with. CSO Min Kim explained, "Korea is a market that is like the heart of PvP games," adding, "The biggest reason is that we can check user reactions in real time and reflect feedback." CEO Jeong Woo-yong also emphasized, "PvP games are hard to succeed with a one-way delivery model from the publisher," and "we will build a structure that grows together in step with users."
In particular, the PC bang strategy in Korea is seen as a watershed for success. DRIMAGE head of business Seo Chong-dong said, "We are in talks with major domestic PC bang vendors and are discussing ways to serve Alkeron effectively," adding, "We have already made meaningful progress." Korea is a representative market where "Battlegrounds" and "League of Legends" expanded into global esports based on PC bangs. If Alkeron gains a foothold in domestic PC bangs, the ripple effect is expected to naturally carry over into overseas esports markets.
CEO Pardo said, "Alkeron is optimized for a structure where the user community organizes tournaments on its own," adding, "We will establish it as a title with competitiveness on the global esports stage, using performance in the Korean market as a springboard."