Photo Credit: HYBE Corporation
HYBE pushes into gaming with a global publishing deal with developer Flint upcoming massively multiplayer online game, Dragon Blaze 2: Knights of Veda.
The deal was signed between the game’s developer, Flint, and HYBE IM, a gaming subsidiary that HYBE Corporation, the largest K-pop entertainment company in the world, founded last March. HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk made the announcement at the G-Star 2022 annual game festival held at Bexco, Busan.
“Gaming is a very attractive form of content which compactly holds all of the factors of entertainment,” says Bang. “Through the game business, HYBE will be able to provide its customers with a newer, more fun, and more diverse pass-time.
“HYBE’s game business will evolve in (its) own unique way, fusing with its other projects and strengthening the value of the entertainment business,” he adds. “We will achieve innovation in the game business, just as we have in the music (industry).”
HYBE CEO Park Ji-won announced during a conference call on November 3 that the company is looking to expand its gaming business with a publishing deal, adding that HYBE will “collaborate with a well-known game company.” That company turned out to be Flint.
“The successful servicing of a self-developed game, and the fact that HYBE has forayed into the publishing business, shows that HYBE, as a comprehensive entertainment corporation, is kicking off its gaming business,” said Park.
“Although HYBE’s artist IPs are important properties (to the company), we will try to showcase games that do not use them,” explains HYBE IM CEO Jeong Woo-yong. The subsidiary signed a publishing deal in September with game developer Macovill. “We are currently developing one new game that is based on artists and music, and we are planning to launch two new Macovill games next year.”
With regards to the use of blockchain technology in HYBE’s games, both Bang and Park have stated there are currently no concrete plans.
HYBE IM was established in March amid the company’s efforts to diversify its portfolio since members of the powerhouse boy band BTS are preparing to take a break from group-related activities as they complete their mandatory military service.