A growing “classic” trend is sweeping the game industry as revenue and playtime increasingly concentrate on older titles despite a rising number of new releases. Data from Steam show record first-half sales, while the share from that year’s new games declines. Similar patterns appear in South Korea’s PC cafes. Publishers are reviving early versions of proven intellectual property, citing lower risk amid soaring development costs, while some warn of limits to nostalgia-led strategies.

South Korean game makers\' second-quarter results are expected to diverge based on profits generated by existing intellectual property rather than whether they released new titles. Krafton and NC, which own PUBG and Lineage, are forecast to post sharp gains helped by new titles and acquisitions. Netmarble is expected to see weaker profitability due to marketing and IP fees, while Nexon expects a pause as some key titles soften despite stable live services.