"1.7 Million Won Lost" User Damage Amid Gambling Controversy Over 'Money-Making Game'

Infinite Breakthrough Samgukji Reverse
App Deleted After Game Rating Cancellation by Game Rating Board
Only Play Store Version Restored

App Store Users Frustrated
Paid Item Refund Policy Unclear
Responsibility Uncertain Amid Gambling Controversy

Users of the mobile game "Infinite Breakthrough Three Kingdoms Reverse" requested refunds from the Apple App Store and the game company after deleting the game on December 27 last year, but their requests were denied. The photo shows a screenshot related to the refund. Photo by Informant

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] "The game disappeared overnight, but I kept receiving only responses that refunding 1.7 million won worth of game items was difficult." Jang Yoo-hyun (pseudonym), a user of the mobile game Muhan Dolpa Samgukji Reverse, recently requested a refund from Apple after the game was removed, but was rejected. When he contacted the game company directly, they replied that they were "continuously checking with the App Store," and Apple repeatedly responded without further explanation that refunds were not possible due to in-app purchase policies.

According to industry sources on the 4th, the play-to-earn (P2E) game service Muhan Dolpa Samgukji Reverse was removed from both Google Play Store and Apple App Store on December 27 last year, but only the Google Play Store version was temporarily restored. The game is completely unavailable on the App Store, leading to a flood of complaints about delays.

The final decision on whether the game will end after January 14 this year depends on the outcome of the suspension injunction application filed by the game developer, Natrice, with the court. The replacement game, Muhan Dolpa Samgukji Reverse L, which was released to substitute the original, has also been blocked from search and payment functions.

Muhan Dolpa Samgukji Reverse promoted itself as Korea’s first P2E game and attracted over 400,000 users, but just 40 days after its domestic launch, it received a cancellation of its rating classification from the Game Management Committee. In Korea, mobile game rating classification authority lies with the Game Rating and Administration Committee (GRAC), the Game Content Rating Board (GCRB), and some authorized self-rating organizations, with GRAC conducting post-inspections. SkyPeople’s blockchain-based mobile game Five Stars for Klaytn also had its rating decision canceled.

The distinctive strength of P2E games is their business model that allows players to earn money by playing. Because the structure enables users to easily obtain virtual currency in the form of ‘tokens’ by purchasing paid items, many consumers are driven to spend heavily in a short period. In the case of Muhan Dolpa Samgukji Reverse, virtual assets were converted into the cryptocurrency ‘Klay’ through the virtual asset service ‘KlaySwap,’ but this service was suspended following the GRAC’s action. Consequently, the market price of the Mudol token plummeted from 200 won to 6 won.

P2E games are a global trend but pose legal issues under domestic law. GRAC considers game items with liquidity as prizes, citing Supreme Court precedents. A GRAC official stated, "The committee judged the rating classification done by a self-rating organization as inappropriate and decided to cancel it. If the game company directly applies, we can review it again."

Despite government opposition, domestic game companies showing interest in P2E games continue to increase. An IT industry insider said, "Since global operators such as app market operators face different issues in each country, it will take time to establish unified policies. Institutional establishment regarding P2E games should come first."

Beyond the unique issues of P2E games, voices are rising that game companies’ responsibility for user inconvenience should be strengthened. Independent lawmaker Yang Jeong-suk has proposed a partial amendment to the Electronic Commerce Act to prevent consumer damage in gaming. The amendment includes provisions allowing withdrawal of subscription if users cannot use purchased items due to the game company’s fault. A staff member from Yang’s office pointed out, "Since interpretations of P2E games have been controversial worldwide, game companies should have considered the possibility of consumer harm and operated accordingly from the introduction of P2E games."

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