Local Mobile Game Market

About 20% of all Koreans are trying to destroy these digital endangered species in Anipang.
About 20% of all Koreans are trying to destroy these digital endangered species in Anipang.

 

Big companies are solidifying their hegemony in the local mobile gaming market.

The mobile gaming industry’s current hegemony is shifting, as major companies are ramping up new titles and dominating the charts.

According to an industry source on November 2, competition between small and large companies has dwindled. This is in  stark contrast to last year, when small companies had the edge.  

Current charts reflect this trend, as major gaming companies such as NHN Entertainment, Gameville, and Come2us rule mobile gaming’s top charts. Several smaller independent companies have released their own titles, but have fallen behind.

Until last year, the domestic mobile gaming market was largely a domain of small, independent companies consisting of 10 developers or less. The game Anipang, introduced by SundayToz, was a major hit, and DrafonFlight developed by one-man company Next Floor caused a major splash. But the trend took a sudden turn when the major companies entered the market. 

The demise of small, independent developers is not owed to the quality of their gaming content but to their limited resources. Launching a sizable marketing campaign is impossible, and it is difficult to promote a mobile game by word of mouth. This trend is forcing small companies to align themselves with major companies.

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