Game Companies Bet Big on the Second Half as New Releases Heat Up [IT Item of the Day]

[Financial News] South Korea's game industry has officially entered the race for new releases in the second half of the year. Major game companies are unveiling launch plans and closed beta test (CBT) schedules one after another, stepping up efforts to capture the market. As new titles that could determine performance in the latter half of the year continue to roll out, competition is expected to intensify further.
According to the industry on the 27th, Nexon recently kicked off the second-half competition by launching the subculture collection RPG "Higan: Eruthyll" in South Korea. Developed by Bilibili in China, the game is a remake that improves on its existing global service version for the Korean market, with the goal of expanding its subculture user base. Alongside it, the company has also begun recruiting participants for the first large-scale alpha test of "Mabinogi Eternity," the engine replacement project for its flagship long-running IP Mabinogi. 
Smilegate will release "Eclipse: The Awakening," a PC-mobile cross-platform MMORPG developed by Npixel, in September. The game follows Seraha, a priest who has lost everything, as she explores a strange parallel world. Its key feature is "MMOLite," which aims to reduce the burden of long play sessions typical of conventional MMORPGs. 
Com2uS will also unveil its blockbuster MMORPG "Zeus: God of Pride" in the third quarter. One of the company's most anticipated titles, the game stands out for its world built on Greek mythology, graphics powered by Unreal Engine 5 (UE5), and large-scale battle content. On Aug. 7, the company plans to reveal core content and the release timeline through an online showcase as it moves to build momentum for a hit. 
Validation of upcoming titles is also continuing. NCSoft is preparing the first closed beta test (CBT) for its subculture RPG "Astral Oratio." The company plans to begin recruiting participants in August, reflect user feedback, and improve the game before launch. The title is seen as part of NCSoft's strategy to diversify its portfolio, which has been centered on MMORPGs. "Astral Oratio" is a new-style fantasy subculture RPG set in a world where magic exists. It will expand user engagement by taking part in Comiket in August and the Tokyo Game Show (TGS) in September.
Mid-sized game companies are also stepping up efforts to target the second-half market. Devsisters will launch its new title "Cookie Run: Crumble" globally on the 30th. The game expands the Cookie Run IP into the idle RPG genre, targeting both longtime fans and new users.
Wemade Max has released "Wind Runner Raising," an idle RPG developed by its subsidiary Lightcon, in South Korea and Taiwan. Shortly after launch, the game climbed into the upper ranks of popularity charts on app markets in both countries, signaling early hit potential.
Dream Age is testing the global CBT for "Archelon," a team-based PvP game developed by the U.S.-based Bonfire Studios, while checking content quality and service stability.
Industry watchers expect competition in the second half of this year to be fiercer than in previous years. The lineup has become more diverse, spanning everything from major MMORPGs to subculture titles and idle RPGs. At the same time, companies are expanding not only in-house development but also publishing deals, making their strategy to minimize release gaps increasingly clear.
In particular, the performance of new releases in the second half is likely to shape not only third- and fourth-quarter earnings but also expectations for growth next year. As companies need to reduce their dependence on revenue from existing live games and secure new users, the competition among game makers is expected to heat up even more.
[email protected] Jo Yoon-ju Reporter