Weverse Introduces Private Messaging... Fandom Platform War Intensifies

Weverse Announces Introduction of 'Weverse DM' on 24th
Artists to Be Revealed Sequentially from 25th
'Matbul' Added to Bubble with 1:1 Messaging Feature

The global fandom life platform Weverse has introduced a ‘Private Message’ feature. It allows artists and fans to exchange 1:1 messages. This is expected to intensify the platform war with another fandom platform, Bubble, which already has this feature.

On the 24th, Weverse announced, “We are launching ‘Weverse DM,’ a subscription-based service that enables private messaging between artists and fans.” Weverse DM offers a UX that feels like chatting with a friend and includes features such as sending photos, videos, and emojis from artists. Additionally, the text function supports emojis and other elements to facilitate more lively conversations.

With the introduction of DM, Weverse has expanded its service scope by providing an additional way for fans and artists to communicate intimately. Choi Jun-won, CEO of Weverse Company, stated, “We plan to continuously introduce new services based on advanced IT technology integrated into our already established community, commerce, and media content services to make communication between artists and fans more convenient. We aim to offer enhanced fan-centric services and expand the fan experience.” Artists who can exchange messages via Weverse DM will be revealed sequentially starting from the 25th.

Currently, the fandom platform market is dominated by Weverse and DearU’s Bubble. Weverse, a subsidiary of HYBE, centers around artists affiliated with HYBE and YG. It operates official communities for over 80 domestic and international artist groups. DearU, an affiliate of SM, hosts artists from entertainment companies such as SM and JYP.

Recently, SM announced a ‘platform collaboration’ with HYBE following the conclusion of the acquisition negotiations. They formalized the entry of 12 of their affiliated groups into Weverse, stating that they would “realize fan-centric ‘SM 3.0’ through the coexistence of Bubble and Weverse.” This ‘coexistence’ strategy aimed to utilize Bubble’s biggest strength?the 1:1 messaging feature?while also leveraging Weverse’s community functions. However, with Weverse launching its own messaging feature, there are talks that it intends to unify the fandom platforms under one roof.