– 13 new student works unveiled at Pangyo on January 13th and 14th, demonstrating creativity that transcends genres and platforms.
– Practical know-how is transferred through special lectures by global console experts such as Idea Factory and Square Enix.
– Serving as a bridge for industry advancement through customized talent development and 1:1 job creation and entrepreneurship consulting services tailored to on-site needs.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) held the ‘Game Talent Showcase 2026’ at the DoubleTree by Hilton Seoul Pangyo Hotel in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, on January 13-14.
At this event, 13 unique games developed by trainees who will lead the future of the gaming industry were unveiled, and around 300 people, including gaming industry officials and aspiring game industry professionals, attended, showing great interest.
◆ 13 projects spanning various genres and platforms
This showcase showcased works that cross genre boundaries, including action, roguelike, adventure, puzzle, horror, and RPG, across various platforms including PC, Xbox, and virtual reality (VR).
▲Daehwajang Games ▲After the Curtain Call ▲Omega: Protocol ▲Vanishing Ground ▲LOG:OUT ▲Kori: the Spiritail ▲RE:BELLION ▲Shotgun Princess ▲FACE the FAITH ▲Baroque, etc., vividly demonstrated the planning ability, technical skills, and team collaboration capabilities of the trainees by revealing works with novel ideas and high level of completion.
Ben Taylor, technical producer at Square Enix, who participated as a lecturer at the global console special lecture and experienced the trainees’ work firsthand, praised it, saying, “It’s hard to believe that it was developed by trainees; the level of completion is so high,” and “It’s so well-organized from planning to the actual play experience that it could be commercialized immediately.”
◆ Operation of customized job and entrepreneurship support programs on site
On the 13th, a job and entrepreneurship consulting program was held for aspiring game industry professionals. Starting with special lectures on employment from NCSoft and Pearl Abyss, 13 companies, including Ubisoft, Wildplan, Nexelon, and ZeroOneSoft, participated in one-on-one consultations, providing practical advice tailored to the needs of the field.
◆ Sharing practical know-how with global console market experts for K-game talent
On the 14th, a special lecture on global consoles was held under the theme of “K-Console! What does the global console market want now?” The lecture was attended by domestic and international console game experts, including Yoshiteru Sato, CEO of IDEA FACTORY, Ben Taylor, Technical Producer of SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD., Taekyun Lee, Director of Com2uS, and Sungkyul Shin, CEO of Grumpy, who shared the latest trends and practical experiences of the global console market.
The speakers gave practical advice centered on real-world examples, such as the importance of worldview, story, and character immersion over graphic specifications, targeting strategies targeting a clear fan base rather than games for everyone, and balancing technology, cost, and completeness in the console game development process.
KOCCA Acting Director Yoo Hyeon-seok said, “This showcase is meaningful in that it shares the educational achievements of the Game Talent Institute both internally and externally, and serves as a bridge connecting the industry and future talent,” and emphasized, “We will continue to provide systematic support to cultivate key talents needed in the field.”
