In a significant turn of events, Bad Brain Game Studios, a subsidiary of NetEase, has announced its impending shutdown due to unsuccessful efforts in securing a new partner for its project, Midnight Riders. This closure, set for November 17th, 2025, serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by game developers in todays competitive landscape. The studio, established in 2023 with talent from Ubisoft Toronto, now finds itself at a crossroads, highlighting the precarious nature of partnerships in the gaming industry.

In recent years, PC and console gaming have transformed from a niche hobby into a dominant cultural force, generating over 130 trillion won in annual sales worldwide. This resurgence is largely driven by advancements in high-end graphics and immersive gameplay experiences that mobile gaming simply cannot match. Notably, Korean game developers are stepping up to the plate, releasing titles aimed at the global market, such as the critically acclaimed “Stella Blade” and “P’s False.