- Strategic Alliance: The Korea Mobile Game Association (KMGA) and game-testing platform Pleaders (Plithus) sign an MOU to foster domestic indie growth.
- Data-Driven Decisions: Leveraging Pleaders’ pool of 100,000+ testers to provide professional FGT, CBT, and OBT services.
- Global Launchpad: Utilizing a vast international network of publishers to bridge K-Indie games with global markets.
The Korea Mobile Game Association (KMGA), led by Chairman Hwang Seong-ik, and Pleaders, headed by CEO Lim Chan-young, officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on January 30, 2026. The partnership aims to provide small-to-mid-sized indie developers with the tools they need to achieve market fit and global success through rigorous data analysis and user-driven testing.
Bridging the Gap with Professional Testing
For many indie developers, a lack of funding often means skipping crucial testing phases. Pleaders addresses this by offering a specialized platform that connects games with over 100,000 active testers.
- Comprehensive Analysis: Beyond simple bug hunting, Pleaders analyzes player logs, surveys, and behavioral data to provide “actionable insights” on game difficulty, balance, and core fun factors.
- Proven Track Record: With over 1,000 test operations under its belt, Pleaders has conducted successful Focus Group Tests (FGT) and Beta tests for numerous emerging titles.
A Global Gateway for K-Indie
The MOU isn’t limited to the domestic market. Pleaders has established a robust international presence, collaborating with publishers in Georgia, Spain, Hong Kong, and the United States.
Through this alliance, KMGA and Pleaders will act as a matchmaker, introducing high-potential Korean indie games to global partners. Pleaders will also participate in KMGA’s flagship event, ‘IndieCraft,’ to assist in the selection and validation of top-tier developers using their expert user-evaluation systems.
Voices from the Leadership
“We want to create an environment where indie developers can refine their games based on real user reactions from the early stages of development,” said Lim Chan-young, CEO of Pleaders. “By serving as a data-driven partner, we aim to ensure that more indie games can stand their ground in the global arena.”
Hwang Seong-ik, Chairman of the KMGA, expressed his enthusiasm: “I am thrilled to join forces with a platform as promising as Pleaders. By building a testing system where users and developers grow together, we will pave a smoother road for K-Indie’s global expansion.”
Partnership Highlights
| Focus Area | Objective |
| Global Networking | Connecting domestic developers with the Pleaders’ international publisher database. |
| IndieCraft Linkage | Providing professional user evaluations for KMGA’s major indie awards and showcases. |
| Executive Membership | Pleaders joins KMGA as an executive member to further influence industry policy and support. |
As Pleaders joins the KMGA as an executive member, the industry anticipates a shift toward more scientific, player-focused development cycles for Korean indie games, helping them compete on the world stage with confidence.
