Unlimited for around 4,000 KRW per month... KT officially launches game subscription service

In-house Streaming Service 'GameBox'
"Will Present a New Paradigm for Game Usage Trends"

KT officially launched its subscription-based streaming game service 'Game Box,' which it developed in-house, on the 12th. Promotional models are introducing the service using smartphones.
[Photo by KT]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The era of subscription has arrived for games as well. By paying a fixed monthly fee, users can enjoy unlimited game content without device restrictions, similar to the online video streaming service (OTT) Netflix, through streaming technology. KT, which showcased a 5G-based streaming game pilot service last December, ignited competition in the domestic telecommunications industry by launching its official service on the 12th.

On the morning of the 12th, KT announced the official launch of its self-developed subscription-based streaming game service, 'Game Box,' at KT Square in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. Lee Sung-hwan, Executive Director of KT's 5G·GiGA Business Division, expressed his ambition, saying, "We will perfectly implement an OTT environment where the latest popular games can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere, presenting a new paradigm in game usage trends."

Unlimited Games for 4,950 KRW per Month
Enjoy Without Device Restrictions
Cheaper Than Competitors

The competitive edge of Game Box emphasized by KT is its subscription fee. Although the official price is 9,900 KRW per month, to commemorate the service launch, it is available for 4,950 KRW per month until the end of the year. This price is cheaper than competitors such as SK Telecom (16,700 KRW/month) and LG Uplus (12,900 KRW/month), which offer similar services.

Subscribers can enjoy over 100 carefully selected games across genres such as action, first-person shooters (FPS), indie, battle, and sports without limits. KT stated, "We plan to add more than 10 popular blockbuster games every month, expanding the total games offered to 200 by the end of the year." Through the N-screen feature, which allows gaming on multiple devices, users can play Game Box not only on smartphones but also on PCs starting in September and on KT Internet TV (IPTV) from October. Support for Apple's iOS will also begin in October.

Game Box also features AI-based game recommendation functions similar to OTT services. By analyzing big data such as users' gender, age, game play history, and genres, it recommends games preferred by users with similar usage patterns. Additionally, it applies about 100 styles of virtual gamepads optimized for over 100 games, enabling users to conveniently control console and PC games on their smartphones. A KT official said, "We aim to establish the OTT model of game services and reach 1 million cumulative subscribers by 2022."

Available to Other Telecom Subscribers from September
Intense Competition Among the Three Major Telecoms in Streaming Game Services

Streaming game services, which store games on servers and allow usage without platform restrictions, are gaining attention as 'killer content' in the 5G era. High-definition, large-capacity game content requires fast response times, making the ultra-fast, low-latency 5G network ideal. Not only KT but also SK Telecom and LG Uplus are actively promoting these services to expand their subscriber base.

SK Telecom plans to introduce Microsoft's (MS) 'Xbox Cloud Gaming' in Korea on the 15th of next month, offering over 100 games regardless of the telecom provider. LG Uplus has been offering the cloud gaming service 'GeForce NOW' in partnership with US-based Nvidia to its customers since September last year and will open it to all telecom providers starting the 24th.

KT also plans to offer Game Box to subscribers of other telecom companies starting in September. In addition, through collaborations with domestic small and medium-sized game companies as well as popular overseas game operators, KT intends to evenly supply blockbuster and indie games. A KT official pledged, "We will make Game Box a successful model of 'Korean-style streaming games' through an open platform strategy."

Global market research firm IHS Markit forecasted that the worldwide streaming game market size will grow more than sixfold from $387 million (approximately 460 billion KRW) in 2018 to $2.5 billion (approximately 3 trillion KRW) in 2023.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.