Game Industry Forecasts a Bright Outlook for This Year... Anticipates Momentum from New Console Releases

Outlook CBI Reaches 102.4 Points, Sales Expectations Rise
Console Games Await Release in March, Including "Crimson Desert"
Expansion of In-House Mobile Payment Systems

The gaming industry has a positive outlook for overall industry conditions in the first quarter of this year, including sales and investment. The anticipated release of highly anticipated console games throughout the second half of the year, along with the expanded adoption of in-house payment systems, is expected to contribute to improved performance.

According to the "Content Industry Trends and Business Sentiment Index (CBI) Analysis for Q4 2025 and Q1 2026" report recently published by the Korea Creative Content Agency on January 5, the domestic game industry outlook CBI for the first quarter of this year reached 102.4 points, up 10.6 points from the previous quarter (91.8 points). In particular, the sales segment scored 105.9 points, which was higher than other segments such as exports (101.3 points), investment (102.2 points), and employment (101.0 points).

The CBI is an index designed to gauge the business sentiment and outlook of companies in the content industry, using a 7-point scale to assess the status of each segment. The survey included a total of 11 industries and 2,508 companies.

In the fourth quarter of last year, the gaming industry’s actual CBI reached 105.4 points, surpassing expectations. All segments shifted from negative outlooks to positive sentiment. In the previous third quarter, overall results were favorable, with major new releases such as Nexon's "Arc Raiders" and NCSoft's "Aion 2" achieving commercial success. The industry expects this trend to continue into the first quarter of this year, with the release of console games scheduled within the year anticipated to provide structural growth momentum.

NCSoft 'Aion 2'

The most anticipated game is Pearl Abyss's "Crimson Desert." Having taken over seven years to develop, "Crimson Desert" is set for a global launch in 14 languages on March 20 this year. It was recently selected as "the most anticipated title to be released on PlayStation 5 (PS5) in 2026." In addition, NCSoft's "Sinder City" and "Time Takers," Krafton's "Subnautica 2," and Netmarble's "Evilbane" are also preparing for release. The open-world tactical shooter "Sinder City" will feature Nvidia's latest graphics technology, as well as Microsoft's Azure cloud platform and Azure Open AI technology.

The spread of in-house mobile payment systems is another factor supporting a positive outlook for the game industry next year. Currently, Nexon's "Dungeon & Fighter Mobile" and "Mabinogi Mobile," as well as Netmarble's "Solo Leveling: Arise" and "Seven Knights Rebirth," support their own payment systems. NCSoft also enabled in-house payments with the launch of "Aion 2" in November last year. This system reduces the commission fees previously paid to the two major app markets, thereby boosting revenue.

An industry official commented, "Although there are some negative views regarding the concentration on console and PC platforms, it is not a major concern when considering overseas expansion. The mobile platform is also seeking new opportunities through simultaneous launches and casual games."