At first, it didn’t seem obvious, but the PC releases of Stellar Blade and Lies of P have revealed something we hadn’t noticed: South Korea is gaining serious momentum in the global gaming industry.

It may not be getting the attention it deserves, but there’s one country rapidly emerging as a dominant force in video games—and it’s thanks to games like Lies of P and Stellar Blade. South Korea, once known primarily for gachas and MMORPGs, is now pushing into the territory of story-driven, gameplay-rich console experiences. Much like what’s happening in China with Black Myth: Wukong, a similar transformation is now underway in Korea.

South Korea Is Claiming the Spotlight

Stellar Blade’s arrival on PC made headlines for good reason. Developed by Shift Up, the hack-and-slash title sold over a million copies on Steam in just three days—matching the two-month PS5 numbers. Combined, it has now sold over three million units. Its peak concurrent user count hit nearly 200,000, doubling or even quintupling other Sony-published games on PC. Shift Up credited the PC version’s success to solid optimization and post-PS5 content updates.

But it’s not just Stellar Blade: Lies of P has become one of the most acclaimed non-FromSoftware soulslikes to date. Its Overture DLC solidified Neowiz as a key player in the subgenre, and a sequel is in development. Meanwhile, The First Berserker: Khazan also demonstrated promise, despite falling short of sales expectations.

This momentum is not random—it’s part of a broader movement. Just this week, Nexon announced Woochi the Wayfarer, a Korean mythology-based AAA action game. Krafton also confirmed that InZoi, its life sim, will launch on PS5 in 2026 while continuing to receive PC updates. Pearl Abyss recently delayed Crimson Desert to early next year due to certification and localization, but dropped a new 13-minute gameplay video to tide fans over.

What’s clear is that South Korea is no longer content to dominate mobile and online markets—it’s aiming to compete with Japan and other Asian giants in the single-player space. Analysts like Daniel Ahmad (Niko Partners) foresee a boom in Korean-made AAA titles for PC and console.

“Korea’s video game market remained stagnant in 2024, with limited growth potential. As a result, developers that once thrived on MMORPGs-as-a-service are now exploring new territories, genres, and models, including premium single-player games aimed at global audiences,” said Ahmad via Eurogamer.

“While the priority is international expansion, Korean devs are also trying to disrupt the domestic scene, challenging the dominance of MMOs, MOBAs, and shooters. Investment in global studios and emerging markets has intensified to build a publishing portfolio that appeals worldwide,” he added. The Korean government is even investing millions into the production of such games.

PC Is the Key, Consoles Are the Future

A sequel to Stellar Blade is already in the works, promising improved narrative and deeper immersion. With both Lies of P and Stellar Blade getting follow-ups, South Korea could very well dominate headlines over the next few years. The director of Lies of P made clear that their vision was to deliver a top-tier single-player action game—and since Korean sales alone weren’t enough, international investments in production, marketing, and localization were built in from the start.

PC, meanwhile, is essential for scaling revenue. Shift Up revealed that only 5% of Stellar Blade’s PS5 sales came from Korea. Console gaming isn’t growing fast enough domestically, which is why the PC release was crucial. If this model continues to succeed, Korea could soon be recognized as a major creative hub in global gaming. China’s example—led by Black Myth: Wukong—is right there: publishers are pouring resources into studios to publish worldwide. Phantom Blade Zero, Where Winds Meet, Tides of Annihilation, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers—the list goes on. And South Korea is poised to join them at the top.

Source: 3djuegos