The Korean PC service for 'Overwatch' will transition from Blizzard to Nexon on the 12nd, coinciding with the end of the pre-account linking period. Users who wish to continue playing on the Battle.net PC environment must link their Nexon account to their Battle.net account by midnight tonight. While it is possible to continue playing on Steam with an existing account without linking, Steam users will be separated into a different matchmaking pool from those using the Battle.net/Nexon client and will not be matched with players who have completed the Nexon account link. Additionally, adding Overwatch to a Steam library will no longer be possible. In essence, Battle.net users must link their accounts, while Steam users must choose how they wish to enjoy the game moving forward.

Nexon and Blizzard stated that this service transfer aims to maintain the core identity of Overwatch while introducing customized content for Korean players. In fact, Nexon and Blizzard will host a large-scale offline event, 'Overwatch Day,' at BEXCO on August 22nd and 23rd. Furthermore, with the arrival of the new Korean hero 'Demon' in Season 4 of the Talon's Reign, the story will shift its focus to Busan, allowing players to experience gameplay tied to the narrative and a transformed version of the city.

Meanwhile, ahead of the service transition, Nexon released a new commercial featuring actor Ryu Seung-ryong. In the ad, Ryu searches for 'Kim-tea,' asks for more tea by calling it 'Gim-more-tea,' and fans cheer 'Ear-mazing' (Gwi-meot-jim) while praising his ears. This is a clever use of a popular meme where Genji's ultimate skill line, 'Ryūjin no ken o kurae,' sounds like 'Ryu Seung-ryong Kimochi' to Korean ears. Nexon has actively utilized witty memes and comedic elements in its game advertisements, and this latest spot is being interpreted as a reflection of the changes brought by the new service provider.

ISSUE | Today's News

■ News | Sooner than expected? '1666: Amsterdam' to launch in Early Access on August 26th

'1666: Amsterdam' is arriving in Early Access sooner than anticipated. Developer Panache Digital Games announced this week that, alongside a new gameplay trailer, the game will enter Early Access on Steam and the Epic Games Store on August 25th. A console version is planned for the full release, though no official date has been set.

1666: Amsterdam is the latest title from Panache Digital, the studio behind 'Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey.' The game initially drew attention for its impressive visuals set in Amsterdam. It has also generated buzz as the first project in about a decade—since the bankruptcy of THQ—from Patrice Désilets, the creator of the 'Assassin's Creed' series. However, the previously released demo was criticized for lacking substantial gameplay content. As the Early Access version is expected to contain about 15 hours of content, the key will be whether it successfully addresses those earlier gameplay concerns.

■ News | Found the fun in cooperation: 'Big Walk' surpasses 1 million copies sold

The co-op adventure 'Big Walk' has surpassed 1 million copies sold. House House announced on its official social media account on the 10th that over 1 million users had purchased the game within six days of its August 4th release. Big Walk is an online co-op game where up to 12 players walk through an open world together to solve puzzles, with communication via voice chatting, gestures, and tools like walkie-talkies at its core. Developer House House, a small studio based in Melbourne, Australia, released this new title about seven years after their previous hit, 'Untitled Goose Game.' With a Metacritic score of 94 and a debut at #1 on the global Steam top-sellers chart, the game reached 6th in domestic sales and 2nd in global sales within a day, leading many to suggest they have successfully replicated the formula for success from their previous work.