Korean game publishers actively hire local talents in China after ban lift

Mir 4 [Source : Wemade]

South Korean game publishers are realigning businesses in the New Year to re-enter the vast Chinese market worth 50 trillion won ($39.1 billion) after Beijing approved new gaming titles last week amid signs of eased regulations.

According to multiple sources from the information technology industry on Tuesday, major game companies in Korea including Wemade Co. and Smilegate have been actively recruiting local game publishing and sales experts in China to boost their Chinese business.

The total number of Wemade’s local employees at its operations in Shanghai, Yinchuan and Beijing has increased to current 56 employees from 16 in 2021. The company is also hiring more China experts in Seoul.

“We will promote new projects like Mir M and Mir 4 Live service in China,” said an unnamed company official. “We are looking for best workers that can establish and manage game sourcing and local service strategy.”

Smilegate, which runs an entity in Shanghai, is also searching for a project manager that can lead esports business using Crossfire intellectual property (IP) as well as publishing-related work.

Smilegate plans to enhance cooperation with its Chinese publishing partner Tencent Holdings Ltd. that will release the Korean game developer’s game in China.

Tencent, which is in charge of Lost Ark’s Chinese service, has launched large-scale promotion for the game. [Source : Tencent]

The Chinese government last year gave authorization to release Lost Ark, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by Smilegate, in China. Tencent, which is in charge of Lost Ark’s Chinese service, has launched large-scale promotion for the game.

Smilegate hopes that Lost Ark can repeat the success of Crossfire in China. The Korean game publisher will also resume IP business in China. It produced a Chinese drama based on the Crossfire story and created a related theme park in Guangzhou in 2021.

Another Korean video game firm Krafton Inc. has also set its eyes on China and is hiring related workforce. Krafton plans to promote license business of game IPs and enhance partnership with local firms.

Korean game publishers are seeking to create added value in China based on the IPs they own. Wemade has IP rights of Mir, Smilegate of Crossfire, and Krafton of Battlegrounds.

More active business expansion by Korean game companies in China follows after China on Dec. 28 granted publishing licenses to 44 foreign games for domestic release, including seven Korean games, after 548 days of ban.