Game companies that grew around online and mobile titles are expanding into physical trading card games, aiming to extend use of their intellectual property beyond screen time and attract collectors and offline users. Krafton is preparing a PUBG: Battlegrounds card game with Cardmonster, while Riot Games will launch its LoL-themed Riftbound in South Korea in September. The article also outlines standalone and IP-alliance models and says long-term success depends on building a player ecosystem.

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.