“Wemade is going to be like that”… The game industry that has been hiding its body at G-Star, even the blockchain special zone Busan is indifferent

Despite the recent crypto boom, blockchain-related exhibits were absent from the country's largest game exhibition, G-Star 2024. The absence was largely due to the controversies and declining profitability surrounding Wemade's blockchain business, which had been the main sponsor for the past three years. The host city Busan, which touts itself as a "Blockchain City," also failed to play a significant role in the event. Major game companies like Nexon, Netmarble, and Com2uS, which are actively pursuing blockchain projects, did not prominently feature their blockchain initiatives at G-Star 2024. The only blockchain-related booth was operated by Com2uS Holdings, which focused on recruiting B2B partners for its blockchain-integrated game backend service Hive. However, there was little interest from companies looking to integrate with Web3. The absence of blockchain-related content at G-Star, a leading game exhibition, highlights the current challenges faced by the domestic blockchain gaming market following the Wemade incident. While blockchain technology continues to garner interest, especially with the recent regulatory easing in the U.S., the industry's presence at major gaming events remains limited.