Kakao Games Corp. has announced an upcoming mobile game, “SM Game Station,” which will incorporate intellectual properties from SM Entertainment Co.’s popular idol groups like Aespa, Red Velvet, NCT Dream, and Rize. This initiative marks the first major collaboration between Kakao Games and SM Entertainment since Kakao acquired the entertainment company in March of the previous year.
Scheduled for a global release in the latter half of this year, the game will be developed by MetaBora, a subsidiary of Kakao Games, with Kakao Games handling the publishing and operational aspects. This strategic move aims to leverage the extensive fanbase of SM’s idol groups to enhance engagement and broaden the game’s appeal internationally.
Prior to this project, Kakao Entertainment had ventured into creating webtoons and web novels featuring idols from SM Entertainment, but this will be the first direct utilization of SM’s idol IPs in a gaming context. The launch of “SM Game Station” aligns with the growing trend of incorporating pop culture elements into mobile games, as seen with Com2uS Corp.’s recent announcement of the “BTS Cooking On: TinyTAN Restaurant” and Smilegate’s release of the dating simulation game “U&I: My Love with the GirlsGroup.”
This collaboration is expected to not only boost Kakao Games’ portfolio but also solidify its position in the global gaming market by combining gaming with the influential power of K-pop.
