G-STAR 2026: AI Platform Crack Becomes Main Sponsor, Focus Shifts to Content

At a press conference in Seoul, organizers of G-STAR 2026 presented an updated concept for Korea's largest game show. The main emphasis is on "outer expansion" and developing proprietary content rather than just attracting new companies. The main sponsor of the event is the AI character chat platform Crack, operated by Luteon Technologies, highlighting a shift from a purely gaming exhibition to a multimedia event.

Organizers identified current market trends as the expansion of the console audience and the globalization of the industry. Therefore, G-STAR 2026 aims to attract not only gamers but also fans of webtoons, anime, and films. As a key visual element, the organizers chose collaboration with the author of the popular webtoon Yumi's Cells, which should help the brand become closer to the audience of the 2030s.

In the first exhibition hall BTC, where major companies are traditionally presented, partners such as Google Play, Webzen, and Team42 will be present. Among international participants are HoYoverse, NetEase Games, Joker Studio, Bilibili, and Century Games. Organizers noted that this is only part of the list, and the full list of participants will be published gradually.

The second hall is dedicated to industrial content. Here, the updated G-STAR Indie Showcase 2.0: Galaxy will take place, which will show not only games but also the indie development ecosystem with partners such as Devolver Digital and Unity. A new section for demonstrating new games from major publishers, including Sega, Koei Tecmo, and Intel, will also be presented.

Special attention is paid to the business part of the exhibition. The BTB (Business to Business) zone will be expanded with new "lounge booths" for startups and small businesses, as well as a new Invest Market section that directly connects developers with investors and publishers. Conditions for registration and ticket validity periods have been improved for participants.

The G-CON conference will take place on November 19–20 in one location with 1500 seats. The theme will be not only game development but also narratives in cinema, animation, and webtoons. Guests such as Marcin Blaha (CD Projekt Red), Yoshinori Kitase (Square Enix), Darren Kobb (Supergiant Games), and the director of the film Operation Valkyrie Lee Byung-hyun are expected to appear on stage. Creators of the game That Dragon, Cancer are also expected to participate.

The city-organizer Pusan plans to turn the exhibition into a city festival. City authorities promise to expand transportation communication, including additional subway trains and KTX, as well as organize tourist programs for foreign guests. The budget of support from the municipality over the years amounted to 3.91 billion won.

The second exhibition hall will be opened by 2030, and a new international airport on Gadeuk Island is planned to be opened by 2035 to support industry globalization. Organizers also note that tickets will be sold in accordance with the pavilion's capacity to avoid crowding, which was a problem in 2024.

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