Which Game Genres Do Korean Gamers Play Together?
This analysis examines how Korean gamers play multiple game genres together using Association Analysis. Based on survey data from 285 gamers and 11 genres, the study identifies key Triplet patterns through Support and Lift. Competitive genres such as RTS, Battle Royale, and MOBA form the most common combination, while RPG-based Triplets show smaller but highly cohesive consumption clusters driven by long-term growth and immersion.
2026 Korean Gamers’ Primary Platform Analysis: PC and Mobile Dominance, Gender Differences, and Monetization Patterns
This analysis examines Korean gamers’ primary gaming platform choices in 2026, revealing a market firmly centered on PC and mobile. Nearly half of respondents identify PC as their main platform, while mobile—led by iOS—accounts for over 40%. Clear gender differences emerge: male gamers strongly favor PC, while female gamers lean toward mobile, particularly iOS. Monetization is widespread, with spending levels varying significantly by platform.
🎮 What Game Genres Do Korean Gamers Prefer in 2026? A Data-Driven Analysis of Genre Preferences and Gender Differences
Analysis of 285 Korean gamers shows MOBA as the dominant default genre, with strong interest in battle royale and strategy titles. Casual games also rank high, revealing a balanced mix of hardcore and light users. Gender differences exist—men prefer competitive play, women lean casual—yet both engage heavily with MOBA.
🎮 G-STAR 2025 Review: A Clearer Look at the Future of Korea’s Game Industry
G-STAR 2025, though smaller in scale, clearly highlighted Korea’s game industry trends: a strong return to PC and console titles, rapid expansion of K-game IP, and a shift toward UX-centered playable demos. Narrative-driven development also gained momentum. Despite reduced indie presence and the removed subculture zone, the event reinforced optimism for Korea’s gaming future.
Growth of Korea's Second-Hand Market and Major Platform Analysis
In recent years, Korea's second-hand market has rapidly expanded, significantly influencing consumer trends and the overall economic landscape. Amid rising prices, economic downturns, and growing environmental awareness, second-hand trading has evolved beyond mere “frugality” into a new lifestyle choice.With smartphones in hand, anyone can now easily participate in second-hand transactions, and the emergence of location-based platforms and diversified services is making the market even more vibr
Enhancing Game UX with Eye Tracking: 4 Key Applications
Enhancing Game UX with Eye Tracking: 4 Key Applications
2024 G-STAR: The Rise of Animation Games and Moments with Steam Deck
Here's my review of the 2024 G-STAR game show, held annually in Busan. The most striking aspect of this year's event was that the games with large booths were mostly animation-based. It was particularly shocking that NCSoft, which showcased the realistic MMORPG TL in 2023, did not even have a booth in the B2C section this year. It felt like animation-based action RPGs and shooting games received more attention compared to realistic RPGs. The organizers promoted the 2024 event as the best in its
Is it time for Korean Game Makers to target the Middle Eastern Market?
Korean games have taken the global stage by storm, and their popularity in the Middle Eastern market is a testament to their widespread appeal. According to the 2023 survey by the Korea Creative Content Agency (Kocca), Middle Eastern users have shown remarkable enthusiasm for Korean games, surpassing other regions in both playtime and expenditure. This surge is not just a fleeting trend but a significant cultural and economic development.Market Penetration and Consumer EngagementThe survey, whic
The Unstoppable Rise of Esports in Korea: T1's Triumph at the eSports World Cup
South Korea has long been recognized as the birthplace of esports, a nation where competitive gaming has evolved into a cultural phenomenon. With its roots in the late 1990s, the esports industry in Korea has grown exponentially, driven by a passionate fanbase and a highly skilled pool of players. Today, Korea stands at the forefront of the global esports market, continually setting benchmarks in both player performance and market development.In 2024, the esports market in Korea is projected to
Setting the Stage for Successful Mobile Game Consumer Engagement Testing
At Direct Research Korea, we pride ourselves on our meticulous and consumer-focused approach to market research. One of the key areas we specialize in is Consumer Engagement (CE) testing for mobile games. This blog will take you through a behind-the-scenes look at how we set up and conduct these tests to provide our clients with invaluable insights.The EnvironmentOur CE testing is conducted in a state-of-the-art facility designed to create a comfortable and distraction-free environment for parti
G-STAR 2023: A Fusion of Fun and Family in Busan's Gaming Extravaganza
The pulsating energy of G-STAR 2023 took Busan by storm, transforming BEXCO into a haven for gamers of all ages. Beyond the dazzling displays from industry giants like NCSoft, Smilegate RPG, and Netmarble, it was the diverse mix of attendees that truly set this year's event apart.Here are the key user insights: 1. Family-Friendly Gaming: G-STAR 2023 showcased a significant rise in family attendance, indicating a growing trend of parents engaging in gaming activities with their children. This hig
G-Star 2023 – Korea's Biggest Gaming Event Breaks Records
As I stepped out of the bustling Busan Bexco convention center on Thursday morning, the energy in the air was palpable, even though the weather was slightly cloudy. G-Star 2023, Korea's grandest gaming extravaganza, had kicked off, and I found myself amidst a sea of excited gamers eagerly anticipating the unveiling of yet-to-be-released games.The scale of this year's event was truly staggering, breaking records from the past. With 3,328 booths set up by 1,037 companies representing 42 countries,
Insights from the Korean Mobile Game Market: October 2023
In the bustling world of mobile gaming, South Korea stands out as a vibrant hub of innovation and revenue generation. With its tech-savvy population and a thriving gaming culture, the Korean mobile game market offers a unique landscape for gaming companies looking to explore new horizons. Understanding how Korean mobile game developers monetize their games can provide invaluable insights for businesses seeking to navigate this dynamic arena effectively.Korean mobile game developers have mastered
[Gaming] South Korea: Third-Ranked country for Highest E-sports Prize Earnings
South Korea is often regarded as the birthplace of e-sports. And with that said, the country has earned more than $124 million of prize money earnings from 6,826 tournaments, to date. There have been 4,894 Korean e-sports players that have attributed to this, making South Korea the third-ranked country in the world for prize money earnings. We shall be breaking down this list, in terms of the prize earnings, for the top 12 e-sport games. 1. League of Legends: $32,913,2412. StarCraft II: $22,747,
[Gaming] 4 Reasons To Expand Your E-Sport Business in Korea
[Gaming] Top 10 Mobile Gaming Companies of South Korea
[Gaming] Inside South Korea: The Home of E-Sports
Source: https://www.seoulz.com/esports-in-korea-a-complete-breakdown-of-the-korean-gaming-culture/Did you know that South Korea is recognized as the home of e-sports? Yes, it is true! In fact, South Korea is widely known for its gaming culture and dominating presence in the e-sports arena worldwide. Around the world, as the pandemic set in, stay-at-home culture increased and so did the consumption of mobile and console games. Let's take a sneak peek at the gaming structure of South Korea. 1. PC
[Gaming] Cloud Gaming ServiceKT GAME BOX relaunches on August
KT renews their cloud gaming service on the 3rd week of August. The company hold around two weeks to revamp the UI and UX for the gaming platform experience. Fun part1) Smooth play with 4G LTE.2) Some free games available.3) Good support Joystick Barriers for me 1) Consume data very fast. 2) Many 18+ adult only games. Violent games. 3) Still prefer to use my Nintendo Switch. Note. I only play 4~5 games and didn't jump into heavy loaded graphic scenes. [Cloud Gaming Service] KT GAME BOX rela
[Gaming] 2020 Cloud Gaming Service in Korea
How is it going to evolve in the market? For telecom service providers, 1)Lock gaming consumer segment. 2)Be the first 5g platform service provider for future development. 3)Sell more entertainment contents. For gaming service partners, 1)Use Korea as 5g testbed.2)Increase awareness.3)Sell more gaming contents. For consumers & gamers, 1)More choice to choose; mobile or consoles? 2)Pursuing seamless gaming experience but which one. 3)Care about playing efficiency. #CloudGamingService#Kor
[Gaming] Time to re-think of marketing levers on the mobile game industry.
Mobile game industry was reborn when smartphones got introduced to the market around 2009 in Korea. Due to the digitally-oriented nature, mobile game developers tend to spend more marketing budget on internet-oriented marketing levers than other industries. Opensurvey recently published its gaming report with online 500 samples. The fieldwork was done in November of 2019. Among the list of most influencing information channel, the top one is ‘Play Store & App Store’ which is very predictable and
[Gaming] Good news for MMO RPG players
NC soft, a Korean game developer, revealed its in-house cross-platform 'purple'. It enables gamers to play 'Lineage Mobile 2' seamlessly from mobile to PC. So far it looks working effectively than Bluestack or Cloud gaming platforms, but it only works for the game yet. #marketresearch hashtag#korea hashtag#cloudgaming hashtag#crossplaform hashtag#directresearchKorea https://pulsenews.co.kr/view.php?year=2019&no=970002