Inven Global

The sentiment and memories condensed in the original Flyff were reborn as Flyff Universe upon meeting a new web browser environment. The accessibility of entering through just a browser without complex installation processes broke down barriers to entry stemming from differences in country and user environment, gathering both existing fans who remember the original game and new players from around the world into a single space. The enthusiasm of the global community formed in this way has led to the global esports tournament, the Flyff Universe World Championship (FWC), where players build new characters every year and compete from the same starting line—a success proven annually by breaking participation records on the dedicated server.

Having taken its first step as an online tournament in 2023, FWC reached its fourth edition this year with FWC 2026, establishing itself completely as an offline global festival where screen nicknames meet face-to-face. Wemade Connect CEO Ho-dae Lee highlighted the community value of the tournament, stating, "The moment players who used to meet online via characters and nicknames face each other directly, the relationships formed in-game expand into real-world connections." Gala Lab CEO Hyun-soo Kim also made clear his determination to connect tournament data and on-site feedback to actual in-game content and PvP balance improvements, calling FWC "a prime example of an event that has evolved based on user responses and feedback."

This year's tournament heightened strategic tension by introducing the Opponent Selection for the Quarterfinals for the first time, where top qualifier teams directly choose their opponents, while expanding the Developer Talk on-site, allowing players to propose their vision for the game's future. As FWC advances beyond a simple competition into a global event awaited and enjoyed by players worldwide, we spoke with Wemade Connect CEO Ho-dae Lee and Gala Lab CEO Hyun-soo Kim about the synergy built through four years of partnership and their blueprint for the long-term service of Flyff Universe.

Following last year, you visited the venue again this year. How do you feel seeing the growing scale of the FWC venue in person?

" Wemade Connect CEO Ho-dae Lee: I couldn't attend in 2024 and visited the venue for the first time last year. My partners and CEO Hyun-soo Kim encouraged me to come, saying that seeing it in person would allow me to physically feel not only the scale and content, but also the passion radiating from the on-site spectators and players. Coming here in person, regardless of the tournament's scale, the intense passion was fully conveyed through the hearts of those who love Flyff, as well as the eyes, expressions, and cheers of the players.

That's why, starting this year, I strongly agree with expanding the scale of the tournament even further. Right now, Flyff Universe is showing steep upward trends not only in offline events but also in online metrics. Considering this trajectory, I believe it can grow into a much larger tournament in the future.

Gala Lab CEO Hyun-soo Kim: Around 2008–2009, we continuously contemplated these kinds of events, starting competitions by inviting only finalists to G-STAR or Gamescom. Then, as we partnered with Wemade Connect to hold a large-scale offline event in the Philippines, I visited the venue from the very first year. Unlike inviting only a small number of players, hosting an event where everyone breathes together in an open space like this felt completely different.

Players eagerly look forward to the event so much that they request us to finalize next year's tournament schedule quickly, as if waiting for Major League Baseball's World Series. At general gaming expos, a game inevitably gets mixed in with others, but holding a festival dedicated solely to a single game gives players an opportunity to enjoy it fully. Thanks to this, loyalty to the game rises, serving as a reason for players to enjoy it consistently without churning. We continue to study how to improve both the event and the service moving forward.

The Flyff Universe World Championship (FWC) is in its fourth edition this year. What is the reason for consistently hosting the tournament, and what message do you hope to convey to fans through it?

" Wemade Connect CEO Ho-dae Lee: I believe FWC goes beyond a competition to determine a winning team; it is a place where Flyff Universe players worldwide share a single goal and experience. By hosting the tournament consistently, we want to express our gratitude to fans who have loved the game for a long time and demonstrate our commitment that Flyff Universe will continue to grow alongside its players.

Despite being a long-standing IP and a web-based game, the tournament's scale and metrics are growing every year. What do you consider the secret to this success?

" Gala Lab CEO Hyun-soo Kim: In the past, when servicing the original PC game Flyff, an update that developers thought would be fun ended up causing resentment among about 20–30% of players, leading to churn. Taking that experience to heart, we pledged to set our development direction thoroughly based on the voices of players, and the first project born from that commitment was Flyff Universe.

Even now, we ask players for their opinions on Discord whenever we apply a patch. When we ask what they think about an upcoming update, some even tell us they will quit the game if we proceed with it. By adopting a collaborative approach rather than unilaterally delivering content, players feel a sense of bond as if they were developers themselves, staying even more tightly connected.

Wemade Connect CEO Ho-dae Lee: As mentioned, Gala Lab is a developer with a very high level of user-friendly attitude and communication capabilities. On top of this, FWC, which kicked into full gear in 2023, acts as a catalyst. After announcing the tournament around March to May, we run online qualifiers on dedicated servers for about four months starting in May, during which player cohesion and fun become intensely concentrated.

During the tournament period, peak concurrent players, user influx, and even revenue experience periods of doubling compared to usual. We believe the positive synergy continues to expand as the developer's ongoing communication efforts align with a major event like FWC.

When deciding to expand FWC—which started as an online tournament—into an offline world finals, what potential did you see?

" Wemade Connect CEO Ho-dae Lee: FWC 2023 was held solely as an online tournament. At the time, seeing players from different regions and languages compete and communicate on a single server confirmed the potential for Flyff Universe PvP to evolve into esports. To expand that potential onto a stage where players and fans meet in person, we moved forward with hosting offline world finals.

Compared to the first tournament, what is the biggest growth or change in FWC?

" Wemade Connect CEO Ho-dae Lee: The biggest change is, above all, the scale of the tournament. With each iteration, the popularity of the FWC server and player participation have continually set new record highs. As it evolved from online tournaments to offline world finals, the ways to enjoy the competition and the touchpoints where players meet have expanded together.

In preparing for FWC 2026, what was the primary focus this year?

" Wemade Connect CEO Ho-dae Lee: Rather than repeating the same format every year, FWC has gradually adjusted its tournament format while observing feedback from players and participants. This year, we introduced 'Opponent Selection' for the Quarterfinals, allowing top-performing teams from the qualifiers to directly select their opponents. We expect this to provide an advantage for strong qualifier results while creating fresh strategic tension through team choices, offering spectators a more engaging experience. We also focused on creating a stable operating environment where players can concentrate on matches and an on-site setup that makes the tournament flow easy for spectators to follow.

On the dedicated FWC server, players raise new characters and spend the tournament season together. Is there a specific reason for choosing this approach?

" Gala Lab CEO Hyun-soo Kim: The dedicated server is a system designed to ensure participants compete from as equal a starting line as possible. Flyff Universe is an MMORPG where not only combat but also character progression, gear preparation, and strategy are crucial. Therefore, by structuring the entire process from character development to actual matches as a single tournament season, we felt we could showcase the players' preparation process and effort as well.

What kind of excitement can matches in the MMORPG Flyff Universe deliver? What key viewing points would you highlight for spectators encountering the game for the first time?

" Gala Lab CEO Hyun-soo Kim: Flyff Universe's PvP requires individual mechanical skill along with class compositions, role division, positioning, and teamwork among teammates. First-time viewers should look at which player gets targeted first, when healing and support skills are used, and how teams reorganize their lines in disadvantageous situations. A single split-second decision shifting the entire momentum of a match is the main viewing point.

Players from around the world who enjoyed the game together online meet face-to-face at the finals venue. What role do you think these encounters play in FWC?

" Wemade Connect CEO Ho-dae Lee: The moment players who met online through characters and nicknames see each other face-to-face, relationships formed inside the game expand into real-life connections. These meetings give players a sense of belonging and lasting memories, serving as an essential driving force that sustains the global community.

Gala Lab CEO Hyun-soo Kim: From a developer's perspective, meeting players from across the globe in person to hear how they enjoy the game and what they expect is crucial. Conversations held at the venue significantly help the development team understand user feedback more specifically and plan future content.

What was the most memorable moment involving fans or players at last year's venue?

" Wemade Connect CEO Ho-dae Lee: The two teams facing off in the finals were particularly memorable. Before the match, they cheered to boost their team's morale, and during the match, they fought fiercely. However, once the match ended, regardless of winning or losing, they congratulated and encouraged one another. Seeing a natural atmosphere of mutual respect form after intense competition surprised me, and I could feel the positive energy that FWC possesses.

Aside from the matches, what experiences do you hope fans visiting the venue this year will take home with them?

" Wemade Connect CEO Ho-dae Lee: Rather than just watching win-and-loss outcomes, I hope fans walk away truly feeling that they are part of the Flyff Universe global community. I hope it becomes a memorable day where players and fans interact and experience various on-site programs together.

Gala Lab CEO Hyun-soo Kim: We plan to host Developer Talk again this year for direct communication between developers and players. Expanding the conversation even further than last year, we want to create a space where players can propose their desired direction for Flyff Universe and freely discuss questions they have had while playing the game.

Flyff Universe can be played across various environments via web browsers. What role do you think this accessibility played in connecting with fans worldwide?

" Wemade Connect CEO Ho-dae Lee: Being able to enjoy the game through a browser without complex installation played a major role in lowering barriers to entry arising from differences in region and hardware environments. Based on this accessibility, we were able to meet not only existing Flyff fans but also new players from various regions, establishing a foundation to expand our global community.

Fans who remember the original game continue to play it over a long time. What do you think is the reason they still seek out Flyff Universe today?

" Gala Lab CEO Hyun-soo Kim: Flyff holds condensed emotions and memories that players have cherished for a long time. When these memories were reborn in a new environment called Flyff Universe, I believe they gained explosive energy beyond nostalgia for existing fans. Maintaining the original's bright, free world, flight system, and player relationships while making it more conveniently accessible via browsers is also why fans return to Flyff.

You have worked closely with developer Gala Lab over a long period to achieve these results. What do you consider the greatest synergy generated between the two companies through this long-term partnership?

" Wemade Connect CEO Ho-dae Lee: Gala Lab possesses deep understanding and development experience regarding the world of Flyff and its players, while Wemade Connect holds expertise in global live operations, business, and marketing. Respecting each other's expertise and collaborating closely created the biggest synergy in operating Flyff Universe stably and expanding its global player base.

Gala Lab CEO Hyun-soo Kim: It is crucial that we can quickly share technical challenges and user feedback identified during development with the publisher, discussing live service priorities together. Understanding each other's decision-making criteria through long-term collaboration has contributed to stable development and operations.

Developers who started out as longtime fans are also participating in Flyff Universe. How do you think having fans involved in development empowers the game?

" Gala Lab CEO Hyun-soo Kim: Developers who come from the fan base possess an experiential understanding of what brings players joy and what matters to them. This serves as a huge strength in creating new changes while preserving the sentiment and identity of the original game. However, maintaining a balance by examining diverse player opinions and objective data rather than remaining strictly from a fan's perspective is equally important.

Among the instances where user feedback was implemented into the actual game or service, is there one that stands out most to you?

" Gala Lab CEO Hyun-soo Kim: I consider FWC itself a prime example of evolving through player reactions and feedback. Expanding from online tournaments to offline world finals, we have refined tournament management and dedicated server environments each year by reviewing feedback from players and spectators. Going forward, we are also considering ways to reflect match data and player feedback accumulated from FWC into actual in-game content. Information related to PvP balance—such as class combinations, skill usage, and match dynamics—is particularly essential data that both developer and publisher must continuously monitor.

For Flyff Universe to be loved in the global market over a long period, close collaboration between developer and publisher seems essential. What are Wemade Connect and Gala Lab focusing on to expand the global player community and sustain long-term success?

" Wemade Connect CEO Ho-dae Lee: Wemade Connect analyzes regional player characteristics, live metrics, and community feedback, continuously sharing them with Gala Lab. We focus on strengthening live operations infrastructure to steadily communicate with players across different countries and languages, creating a service environment where new players can easily settle in while existing players enjoy long-term engagement.

Gala Lab CEO Hyun-soo Kim: The developer is tasked with connecting player voices and operational data to content improvements. By jointly reviewing priorities for content updates, balance adjustments, and quality-of-life enhancements, both companies will shape a development path that players can enjoy over the long term.

What aspect do you most want to cultivate going forward to ensure long-term service for Flyff Universe?

" Gala Lab CEO Hyun-soo Kim: I want to cultivate a structure where new and returning players can naturally settle into the game and build new experiences alongside existing players. In addition to continuous content updates and stable operations, we aim to further develop elements like PvP and community activities where players can create shared goals and maintain relationships.

If you could each make one promise as CEOs to global players reading this interview, what would it be?

" Gala Lab CEO Hyun-soo Kim: As mentioned earlier, I promise to do my utmost to ensure Flyff Universe achieves long-term success by continually offering diverse content and events. That is my biggest motto.

Wemade Connect CEO Ho-dae Lee: Through close collaboration with the original developer Gala Lab, we will continuously support the game's growth and brand expansion. Furthermore, our goal is to grow FWC even bigger so that it expands beyond the Philippines to Europe and other regions, establishing itself as a game enjoyed by players worldwide.

How do you wish to develop FWC in the future? Do you have any final words for the fans?

" Gala Lab CEO Hyun-soo Kim: As a developer, I hope FWC serves as a stage where players test their skills and an opportunity to advance Flyff Universe's PvP content. We will closely examine match data and player feedback gathered from the tournament during development to connect them to better gaming experiences.

Wemade Connect CEO Ho-dae Lee: I hope FWC grows beyond a competition for select players into a global event awaited and enjoyed by all Flyff Universe players worldwide. We will steadily develop the tournament's foundation and content so that more regions and players can participate. Sincere thanks to everyone who has supported Flyff Universe and FWC so far.