Convergence Game Show 'PlayXpo' Returns After 3 Years... May 12-15

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] 'PlayX4,' the largest converged game show in the Seoul metropolitan area, will be held offline for the first time in three years.

Gyeonggi Province announced on the 3rd that it will hold the '2022 PlayX4' at KINTEX Exhibition Hall 2 in Goyang from May 12 to 15, and has launched the official website to begin full-scale preparations, including recruiting domestic participating companies.

Hosted by Gyeonggi Province and organized by the Gyeonggi Content Agency and KINTEX, PlayX4 was not held in 2020 due to COVID-19, and only an online export consultation meeting was held in 2021.

This year, as the event is held for the first time in three years, the province plans to showcase everything about the gaming industry’s development through the exhibition, including game business, game exhibitions and experiences, and eSports viewing.

The export consultation meeting (B2B) will be held both online and offline from May 12 to 13, and the exhibition (B2C) from May 12 to 15.

This year, the Gyeonggi eSports Festival (Seoul Metropolitan eSports Competition) will also be held simultaneously.

For the export consultation meeting, over 150 companies from 28 countries have applied to participate, including Japan’s Nintendo, Sega, Konami; the U.S.’s Microsoft Xbox, Nicalis, Skystone Games; Poland’s Huuuge Games; Dubai’s IMS; and China’s major buyers ByteDance, iQIYI, Bilibili, and Chukong.

Online business matching will operate 24 hours a day, considering the business hours of distribution and publishing companies in the Americas and Europe.

Developers who register on a first-come, first-served basis will also receive benefits such as promotional video shooting support and promotion in North America and Southeast Asia.

The exhibition will introduce new titles across genres including computer and mobile games, consoles, arcades, indie games, and board games.

This year, Twitch’s 'PlayX4 TV' will provide various attractions such as Luricon, new game introductions, eSports tournament broadcasts, and streamer events. Last year, PlayX4 TV secured over one million shared viewers.

Game culture seminars and events for exploring game career paths are also being planned. The Gyeonggi eSports Festival this year will be held as competitions for people with disabilities, the general public, and university students so that everyone can enjoy it.

Companies wishing to participate can apply through the website by the 15th of this month. Visitors can register in advance by May 11 to attend free of charge.