HYBE Interactive Media (HYBE IM), the gaming arm of South Korean entertainment group HYBE, has secured ₩30 billion ($21 million) in new funding to expand its presence in the video game market.
MM Investment led the funding round, pitching in half the amount with ₩15 billion ($10 million). Newcomers Shinhan Venture Investment and Daesung Private Equity also joined the party, bringing fresh capital to the table.
The fresh capital will support marketing, operations, localization strategies, and live services for HYBE’s game titles. The company plans to strengthen its position in the gaming sector by using its popular K-pop intellectual properties. For context, HYBE currently manages some of the most popular K-pop groups and solo artists under its sub-labels:
- BTS
- SEVENTEEN
- TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT)
- ENHYPEN
- LE SSERAFIM
- NewJeans
“This additional funding marks a pivotal moment in strengthening HYBE IM’s global competitiveness in both game publishing and development,” said HYBE IM president Wooyong Chung. “We aim to evolve beyond IP-based gaming and become a next-generation publisher delivering compelling content to gamers worldwide.”
Several of HYBE’s famous music acts have already appeared in games. BTS starred in the company’s first-party mobile game “BTS Island: In the SEOM,” while SEVENTEEN and Fromis 9 were featured in “ASTRA: Knights of Veda.”
Most recently, girl group LE SSERAFIM made an appearance in Activision Blizzard’s popular shooter “Overwatch 2.”
This latest investment brings HYBE Interactive Media’s total funding to an impressive $100 million to date. This follows an $80 million investment round led by Makers Fund just last August.
Looking ahead, HYBE Interactive Media will continue developing “a number of gaming projects.” As reported by Pocketgamer.biz, these include an MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) titled “Architect: Land of Exile.” The company noted that investor excitement about this particular title played a significant role in securing the recent funding.
The gaming division stated it would be “doubling down” on efforts to ensure the success of its key titles. This strategic focus reflects HYBE’s broader ambition to diversify beyond its music business, where it has already achieved tremendous global success through groups like BTS and NewJeans.
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