Gyeonggi Province Kicks Off 'PlayX4 2025'
Focused Promotion for SMEs, Esports Festival, and More
Showcasing Esports Leagues and Interactive Content on a Large Scale
The largest convergence game show in the Seoul metropolitan area, 'PlayX4 2025', kicked off on May 22.
Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dongyeon and participants are taking a commemorative photo at PlayX4 2025 held on the morning of the 21st at KINTEX Exhibition Hall 1 in Goyang Special City. Photo by Gyeonggi Province
This event, hosted by Gyeonggi Province and organized by Gyeonggi Content Agency and KINTEX, will be held for four days until May 25 at KINTEX Exhibition Hall 1 in Goyang City.
At the opening ceremony, Gyeonggi Province Governor Dongyeon Kim said, "When I was young, I loved comics 'to an excessive degree.' In middle school, I enjoyed novels, in high school I liked sports, and as an adult, I became fond of movies. The common features among the comics, novels, sports, and movies I enjoyed are, first, imagination, and second, storytelling. Even during my long career in public service, I tried to maintain a strong sense of imagination, and I think that source came from those experiences."
He added, "Games, which combine imagination and storytelling with experience, are our assets and treasures."
Governor Kim continued, "I have heard that Gyeonggi Province is sometimes called 'Game-gi-do.' This is because Gyeonggi Province is at the center of Korea's game industry and gaming experiences. Now, games are evolving beyond mere entertainment to become a future growth engine for Korea. As 'Game-gi-do,' Gyeonggi Province will spare no effort in providing support and playing a leading role in the game industry."
On this day, Governor Kim toured the exhibition hall, met with high school developers from Gyeonggi Game Meister High School and young developers from Neowiz, and even tried out a mobile game himself.
PlayX4 has established itself as the largest convergence game exhibition in the metropolitan area, serving not only as a platform for introducing games but also as a venue for promoting the game industry and providing hands-on experiences to the public. In particular, it creates industrial value through export consultations and global business matching programs for small and medium-sized game companies. The event also features a variety of interactive content for families, growing into a festival enjoyed by all generations.
'PlayX4 2025', under the theme 'Games, Beyond!', presents new possibilities and cultures in the game industry through interactive content, esports leagues, and global networking programs.
This year's event featured a diverse range of performances, including game OST DJing by DJ Bagaji and a magic show by magician Lee Junhyeong, heightening the festive atmosphere. Industry representatives from both domestic and international game companies attended. Notably, organizing committees from overseas game shows, including China and Japan, also participated and pledged cooperation with Gyeonggi Province's game industry, creating a platform for global solidarity.
Gyeonggi Province Governor Dongyeon Kim is touring booths at PlayX4 2025 held at KINTEX Exhibition Hall 1 on the morning of the 21st. Provided by Gyeonggi Province
Visitors can enter easily through pre-registration, receiving guidance from security personnel in the entrance waiting area of Hall 2. During the event, the main entrances will operate alternately by day, and a dedicated re-entry entrance has been set up for added convenience. Admission tickets provided to pre-registered visitors allow for unlimited re-entry regardless of date or number of visits.
In the B2B section, export consultations, business matching, AI forums, and game auditions will be held, providing opportunities for collaboration and expansion with global game companies. Programs for industry professionals, such as special lectures on game trends, a free play zone, and Focus Group Testing (FGT), will also be available. The 'PlayX4 × STOVE' online exhibition hall will showcase content that connects both online and offline experiences.
The exhibition hall features a wide range of content, including consoles, PC/mobile, arcade, indie games, and board games, as well as opportunities to try out the latest gaming gear. In particular, the Steam Deck experience zone is receiving enthusiastic responses for allowing visitors to enjoy popular games in a portable format. In addition, various side events such as the Challenge Golden Bell quiz, a retro game arcade, rhythm game tournaments, an international cosplay competition, and more will be held.
The Gyeonggi Esports Festival will host a variety of competitions, including the National Disabled Tournament, National Campus Competition, Family Competition, the 'Eternal Return Korea Esports League Opening Match', and the 'ASL Season 19 Finals', drawing enthusiastic support both onsite and online.
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