HYBE, BTS boy group’s management agency, jumps into the gaming business

HYBE entertainment company which is managing the world-famous boy group, BTS, has signed a deal with Flint Co. Ltd. for a global game publishing deal. The deal will add game development and distribution business to the company’s portfolio.

HYBE’s founder and chairman, Bang Si Hyuk, said last weekend that with the addition of this new business, their company is bound to become a comprehensive entertainment firm. The deal will certainly scale up HYBE’s gaming business through Flint’s upcoming online game title - “Dragon Blaze 2: Knights of Veda.”

This is the first project after HYBE’s gaming subsidiary, HYBE IM, which was launched in March, signed the deal. The partnership was announced during the recent G-Star 2022 annual game festival that was held from Nov. 17 to Nov. 20 in Bexco, Busan, South Korea.

"From the point of view of a chairman of the company that runs an entertainment business, all the elements involved in the game content business are very attractive," HYBE’s chairman said during a press conference at the said game show.

Bang added, "Considering that it is the fate of a platform company to occupy customers' valuable time, I think Hybe has the vision to become a global lifestyle platform company, it will be able to provide customers with new and enjoyable experiences through the game business."

According to The Korea Times, Flint Co. is a game developer that created the online role-playing game "Dragon Blaze 2", and under the contract, Hybe IM will be the exclusive distributor of the said title.

“Dragon Blaze 2” is a massively multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG) which is apparently a sequel to Flint’s “Dragon Blaze” game that was published by Com2uS Holdings in 2014. It has been scheduled for release in 2023 with no definite date yet.

It was mentioned that the deal also includes HYBE’s stake acquisition in Flint. However, they did not disclose the number of shares bought. This investment is expected to further strengthen the partnership between the companies.

Meanwhile, HYBE has been expanding its business portfolio to lessen its dependence on BTS, which has propelled the company to massive success. The members of the band are also set to enter the army for their mandatory military service, so the company needs other sources to maintain its business status.