The nostalgia and sentiment distilled in the original Flyff were reborn as Flyff Universe in a web browser environment. Its accessibility—allowing players to jump in directly through a browser without complex installation processes—broke down entry barriers stemming from regional and system differences, gathering existing fans who remember the original game alongside new players from all over the world into a single space. The enthusiasm of the global community built this way carries into the Flyff Universe World Championship (FWC), a global esports tournament where players train new characters each year to compete from the same starting line, setting new participation records on its dedicated server every year.
First launched as an online tournament in 2023, FWC has reached its fourth edition with FWC 2026, taking root as an offline global festival where handles behind screens meet face to face. Wemade Connect CEO Lee Ho-dae highlighted the community value of the event, stating, "When players who only knew each other by characters and nicknames online meet in person, the bonds formed in-game expand into real-life relationships." Gala Lab CEO Kim Hyun-soo agreed, emphasizing, "FWC itself is a prime example of an event developed based on player feedback and reactions," expressing his commitment to channeling tournament data and on-site feedback directly into in-game content and PvP balance improvements.
This year's tournament heightened strategic tension by introducing the Quarterfinals Selection Ceremony for the first time, where top teams from the qualifiers directly choose their opponents. On-site, the Developer Talk section was expanded to allow players to directly pitch their ideas for the game's future. As FWC evolves beyond simple competition into a global festival awaited and enjoyed by players worldwide, we spoke with Wemade Connect CEO Lee Ho-dae and Gala Lab CEO Kim Hyun-soo about the synergy built over four years of partnership and their blueprint for the long-term service of Flyff Universe.
You visited the venue again this year following last year. How does it feel to witness the FWC venue growing in scale firsthand?
" Wemade Connect CEO Lee Ho-dae: I couldn't attend in 2024, and visited the venue for the first time last year. My partners and CEO Kim Hyun-soo suggested I come in person, saying I'd be able to feel the passion radiating from the spectators and players firsthand, alongside the event's scale and content. When I actually visited, regardless of the tournament's size, 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 align with expanding the scale of the tournament further. Flyff Universe is currently showing a steep upward trajectory in both offline events and online metrics. Looking at this trend, I believe it can grow into a much larger tournament in the future.
Gala Lab CEO Kim Hyun-soo: Around 2008 to 2009, we continuously contemplated events like this, starting tournaments by inviting only the finalists to events like G-STAR or Gamescom. Then, after partnering with Wemade Connect to host a large-scale offline event in the Philippines, I visited the venue from the very first year. Unlike inviting just a few players, hosting an event in an open space where everyone breathes together felt completely different.
Players look forward to the event so much that they ask us to confirm next year's schedule early, much like waiting for the MLB World Series. At comprehensive gaming conventions, you inevitably get mixed in with multiple games, but holding a festival dedicated solely to a single title gives players an opportunity to fully enjoy it. This builds higher loyalty to the game and gives players a reason to stay without churning, so we continue to study how to further improve both the event and the service.
This is the fourth edition of the Flyff Universe World Championship (FWC). What is the reason for consistently hosting the tournament, and what message do you hope to convey to fans through it?
" Wemade Connect CEO Lee Ho-dae: I see FWC as more than just a tournament to determine a winning team; it's a place where Flyff Universe players from around the world 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 to growing Flyff Universe alongside our players in the future.
Despite being an older IP and a web-based game, its scale and performance metrics continue to grow every year. What do you think is the secret behind this?
" Gala Lab CEO Kim Hyun-soo: In the past, when operating the original PC Flyff, we applied an update that the developers thought would be fun, but it ended up causing backlash from about 20% to 30% of our players, leading to user churn. Taking that experience as a lesson, we pledged to shape our development direction strictly based on player feedback, and the first project born from that commitment was Flyff Universe.
Even now, we ask players for their opinions on platforms like Discord every time we prepare a patch. When we share what kind of update we are preparing and ask for their thoughts, some players tell us they will quit if we proceed with that patch. Because we take an approach of co-creating rather than unilaterally delivering content, players feel a bond as if they were developers themselves, creating a much stronger connection.
Wemade Connect CEO Lee Ho-dae: As mentioned, Gala Lab is a developer with an exceptionally high level of user-friendly attitude and communication capabilities. On top of that, FWC, which kicked off in earnest 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 engagement and enjoyment reach peak concentration.
During the tournament period, we see periods where peak concurrent user numbers, player influx, and revenue all double compared to usual. The developer's ongoing communication efforts combined with a major event like FWC create a compounding positive effect.
When deciding to scale FWC from an online tournament into an offline world finals, what potential did you see?
" Wemade Connect CEO Lee Ho-dae: The 2023 FWC was held purely as an online tournament. Seeing players from different regions and languages compete and communicate on a single server back then confirmed the potential for Flyff Universe's PvP to evolve into an esports discipline. To expand that potential onto a stage where players and fans can meet face-to-face, we pushed forward with an offline world finals.
Compared to the first tournament, what is the biggest growth or change in FWC?
" Wemade Connect CEO Lee Ho-dae: The biggest change above all is the scale of the tournament. With each successive edition, the popularity of the FWC server and player participation have continually broken previous highs. As it evolved from an online tournament to an offline world finals, the ways people enjoy the event and the touchpoints where players meet have expanded together.
In preparing for FWC 2026, what was the main focus this year?
" Wemade Connect CEO Lee Ho-dae: Rather than repeating the exact same format every year, FWC has gradually adjusted its tournament format while observing the reactions of players and fans. This year, we introduced a 'Quarterfinals Selection Ceremony' where top-qualifying teams directly select their preferred opponents for the quarterfinals. We expect this to provide an advantage for qualifying performance while creating new strategic tension through each team's choices, offering a more engaging experience for spectators. We also focused on creating a stable operational environment so players can focus on their matches, as well as an on-site setup that makes it easy for attendees to follow the flow of the tournament.
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 Kim Hyun-soo: The dedicated server is a system designed to ensure participants compete from the same starting line as much as possible. Flyff Universe is an MMORPG where growing a character and preparing gear and strategies are just as important as combat itself. Therefore, by structuring the tournament season to span from character leveling all the way to actual matches, we felt we could showcase the preparation and effort of the players as well.
What kind of excitement can matches in an MMORPG like Flyff Universe deliver? What viewing highlights would you recommend to spectators encountering the game for the first time?
" Gala Lab CEO Kim Hyun-soo: Flyff Universe's PvP emphasizes class compositions, role division, positioning, and team coordination alongside individual mechanics. For first-time viewers, it's great to focus on which player is targeted first, when healing and support skills are used, and how teams reorganize their formation under pressure. The biggest highlight is seeing a split-second decision completely shift the momentum of a match.
Players from all over the world who played together online meet face to face at the finals venue. What role do you think these reunions play in FWC?
" Wemade Connect CEO Lee Ho-dae: The moment players who knew each other online through characters and handles meet face to face, the relationships formed in-game expand into real-life connections. These encounters foster a sense of belonging and lasting memories, serving as a vital force that sustains our global community.
Gala Lab CEO Kim Hyun-soo: From a developer's perspective, meeting players from around the world in person to hear how they play and what they expect is invaluable. Conversations at the venue help the development team gain a more concrete understanding of player feedback and serve as great input when planning upcoming content.
What fan or player moment from last year's event was most memorable to you?
" Wemade Connect CEO Lee Ho-dae: The two teams facing off in the finals were particularly memorable. Before the match, they cheered each other on to build team momentum, and during the match, they fought fiercely. But once it ended, regardless of win or loss, they congratulated and encouraged one another. Seeing a spirit of mutual respect emerge naturally after intense competition amazed me and made me feel the positive energy FWC holds.
What kind of experience do you hope fans attending the venue this year take home beyond watching the matches?
" Wemade Connect CEO Lee Ho-dae: Rather than just watching win-and-loss results, I hope fans walk away truly feeling that they are part of the global Flyff Universe community. I hope it becomes a memorable day where players and fans interact and experience various on-site programs together.
Gala Lab CEO Kim Hyun-soo: We plan to host the Developer Talk session again this year for direct communication between the dev team and players. Expanding on last year's discussion, we want to create a space where players can share what they want to see in Flyff Universe and freely ask any questions they've had while playing.
Flyff Universe can be enjoyed in various environments via web browsers. How do you view accessibility playing a role in reaching fans worldwide?
" Wemade Connect CEO Lee Ho-dae: Being able to play through a browser without complex installations played a major role in lowering barriers stemming from differences in region or hardware setup. Building on this accessibility, we were able to connect not only with existing Flyff fans but also with new players across diverse regions, laying the foundation to expand our global community.
Fans who remember the original game have been playing for a long time. What do you think brings them back to Flyff Universe today?
" Gala Lab CEO Kim Hyun-soo: Flyff encapsulates emotions and memories that players have cherished for a long time. When those memories were reborn in the new environment of Flyff Universe, I believe it gained explosive momentum going beyond simple nostalgia for existing fans. Preserving the original game's bright, open world, flying system, and player connections while offering the convenience of browser play is another key reason fans keep returning to Flyff.
You have collaborated with developer Gala Lab over a long period to achieve these results. What do you consider the greatest synergy generated between both companies through this long-term partnership?
" Wemade Connect CEO Lee Ho-dae: Gala Lab possesses deep development expertise and understanding of the Flyff universe and its players, while Wemade Connect brings extensive experience in global live operations, business, and marketing. Respecting each other's expertise and collaborating closely has generated the strongest synergy in reliably operating Flyff Universe and expanding its global player base.
Gala Lab CEO Kim Hyun-soo: Being able to swiftly share technical challenges and player feedback identified during development with the publisher, and jointly discussing priorities from a service perspective, is crucial. Through years of collaboration, both companies have come to understand each other's decision-making criteria, which contributes greatly to stable development and live operations.
Flyff Universe also features developers who were long-time fans of the original game. What strength do you think having fan-turned-developers brings to game production?
" Gala Lab CEO Kim Hyun-soo: Developers with a fan background empirically understand where players find joy and what they value most. This provides immense strength when driving fresh innovations while preserving the game's identity and emotional core. However, maintaining a balance by looking at broad player feedback and objective data rather than relying solely on a fan's perspective is equally important.
Among instances where player feedback was implemented into the game or live service, is there a specific example that stands out to you?
" Gala Lab CEO Kim Hyun-soo: I think FWC itself is a prime example of an initiative that evolved based on player reactions and feedback. It expanded from an online competition to offline world finals, and each year we've refined tournament operations and dedicated server environments based on input from players and spectators. Going forward, we are also considering ways to incorporate tournament data and feedback collected from FWC directly into in-game content. Information regarding PvP balance—such as class combinations, skill usage, and match dynamics—is vital data that both developer and publisher must continuously monitor.
Close collaboration between developer and publisher seems essential for Flyff Universe to maintain long-term success globally. What areas is Wemade Connect focusing on alongside Gala Lab to expand the global player community and sustain the game's long-term performance?
" Wemade Connect CEO Lee Ho-dae: Wemade Connect analyzes regional player traits, service metrics, and community feedback, continuously sharing these with Gala Lab. We focus on strengthening our live ops infrastructure to maintain steady communication with players across different regions and languages, creating a service environment where new players can easily settle in while veteran players remain engaged long-term.
Gala Lab CEO Kim Hyun-soo: The developer's role is connecting player feedback and live metrics to content improvements. By jointly reviewing priorities for content updates, balance adjustments, and quality-of-life improvements, both companies will forge a development roadmap that players can enjoy for years to come.
Looking ahead, what area do you most want to cultivate to support long-term service for Flyff Universe?
" Gala Lab CEO Kim Hyun-soo: I want to foster an ecosystem where new and returning players can settle into the game naturally and create new experiences alongside existing players. Beyond consistent content updates and stable operations, we aim to further advance social elements—such as PvP and community activities—that allow players to set shared goals and build lasting relationships.
If you could each make one pledge as CEO to global players reading this interview, what would it be?
" Gala Lab CEO Kim Hyun-soo: As mentioned earlier, I promise to do my utmost so that Flyff Universe enjoys a long life, introducing a wide variety of content and events well into the future. That is my biggest motto.
Wemade Connect CEO Lee Ho-dae: Through close collaboration with the original developer, Gala Lab, we will continuously support the growth and brand expansion of the game. Furthermore, our goal is to expand FWC beyond the Philippines to Europe and other regions, establishing Flyff Universe as a game enjoyed by players worldwide.
How do you envision evolving FWC in the future? Do you have any closing words for the fans?
" Gala Lab CEO Kim Hyun-soo: As a developer, I hope FWC serves both as a stage for players to showcase their skills and as an opportunity to push Flyff Universe's PvP content forward. We will carefully analyze match data and player feedback from the tournament during development to deliver an even better gaming experience.
Wemade Connect CEO Lee Ho-dae: I hope FWC grows into a global celebration that all Flyff Universe players worldwide anticipate and enjoy, far beyond a competition reserved for a few select players. We will continuously refine the tournament's foundation and content so more regions and players can participate. Sincere thanks to everyone who has supported Flyff Universe and FWC so far.
