The fantasy MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV seems to be settling well in South Korea despite a variety of obstacles.
From a European perspective, it may not be on everyone’s radar: But there are also significant differences between the individual markets in Asia. Just as we Germans have different ways of thinking than the French or Italians, the same applies to the Asian markets like Japan or South Korea.
Therefore, there are many reasons why the Japanese MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV could fail in South Korea. Some South Koreans hold historical prejudices against Japan and everything Japanese. Moreover, the MMO gaming industry is firmly in ‘its own’ hands and there is strong belief in the Free2Play model.
Nevertheless, the Japanese version of Final Fantasy XIV launched in South Korea with a hybrid payment model and is reportedly achieving great success there. As the local publisher reveals, about 250,000 players log in daily and spend many hours in the game, with mentions of over 300 minutes.
This was not necessarily expected and is seen by well-meaning observers as a sign of the outstanding quality of the game.
More about Final Fantasy XIV can be found on our topic page.
