In a strategic move to strengthen its global footprint, Sony Interactive Entertainment is believed to be expanding its search for exclusive PlayStation titles and third-party collaborations in South Korea.
This expansion effort is Sony’s latest approach to bolster its gaming business worldwide, with an established track record of successful partnerships in China and a burgeoning talent hunt in India.
Sony’s interest in Korean developers arises from the undeniable success of gaming in Korea, evident in the popularity of the country’s biggest games like PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Black Desert, and NCSoft’s Lineage. The company’s interest is further amplified due to the massive potential of the Korean online gaming market and its escalating popularity among local gamers.
Rumour PlayStation To Continue Its Expansion In Korea, PlayStation Plans On Investing In:
• Pearl Abyss Developers Of Crimson Desert
• NCSOFT Studios Developers Of Blade & Soul
• Com2uS Studios Developers Of Summoners War
• Neowiz Games Developers Of Lies Of P… pic.twitter.com/ExNoUpgk3y
— @Zuby_Tech (@Zuby_Tech) June 30, 2023
According to MTN Korea, a notable Korean news site, Sony is currently in negotiations to invest in several renowned studios in South Korea, including Pearl Abyss, the developer of the forthcoming action role-playing game, Crimson Desert. Several other potential partnerships include NCSoft, known for its PC MMORPG Blade & Soul, mobile game developer Com2uS, famed for Summoners War, and Neowiz Games, the publisher of the anticipated soulslike, Lies of P.
Sony’s global strategy seems to be bearing fruit, with the company having struck gold with Chinese developer miHoYo, the creators of the widely popular games Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail. Microsoft, on the other hand, has allegedly expressed regret over missing the opportunity with Genshin Impact and appears to be keen on tracing Sony’s footsteps, setting its sights on Chinese and Korean developers.
Reports suggest that Sony has also been working with Korean developer Shift Up on a project titled Star Blade, expected to be available on the PS5 platform. The gameplay is primarily combat-focused, with an emphasis on counterattacks and the use of combined skills and items to defeat enemies.
However, the Korean market is not solely Sony’s playground. Xbox has a head start in courting game developers like Pearl Abyss, SmileGate, and NeoWiz. While Sony may currently hold the upper hand in China, Xbox seems closer to the Korean market. The console market is increasingly competitive, with companies aiming to buy into the next hot market to gate off competitors and secure a dominant position.
MTN cites Sony’s expansion is a direct response to Microsoft’s proposed $70 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which underlines the competitive nature of these strategic alliances. However, irrespective of competition, this dynamic landscape presents a win-win scenario for the developers, gaming platforms, and gamers alike.
It’s safe to say that gamers worldwide can anticipate an exciting influx of diverse content from some of the most innovative and creative developers in the industry.
It will be intriguing to see how Sony’s efforts in the Korean gaming market shape the future of PlayStation and the global gaming landscape.
Sony’s continued investment in securing exclusives for its platform has come under heavy fire and scrutiny lately, especially as it tries to stop Microsoft from buying Activision Blizzard. Many have labeled their opposition as hypocritical, which becomes more obvious as Microsoft has openly lobbied for the complete removal of platform exclusivity.
Only time will tell which of Microsoft or Sony can tap into the MMO- and MOBA-friendly South Korean market first.
