※INVEN provides a monthly report on the Taiwanese gaming market. Get a quick overview of the increasingly important Taiwanese gaming landscape. This report was provided by HappyTuk, a local publisher of online and mobile games in Taiwan.

Indie games and eSports were the buzzwords in Taiwan's gaming market this June. First, the 'East Asia Indie Game Festival,' initiated by Taiwanese indie developers, confirmed its second annual event, scheduled for August 5–13. Building on the success of last year's inaugural event, which featured 422 titles from 12 East Asian regions, this year's festival will focus on strengthening global network connections. Organizers also plan to collaborate with Steam to host discount events, providing a broader platform to showcase various titles to users.

Meanwhile, the Taiwanese government held a public hearing in June for the 'eSports Development Basic Act' to institutionalize the industry and address legal gaps. During the hearing, Minister of Sports Li Yang announced plans to establish investment funds via an eSports industry white paper, formulate development and incentive programs, enact legislation to improve stadium environments, and provide direct budget support for tournament hosting and professional training. Taiwanese eSports experts have praised these announcements as a solid institutional foundation for the long-term success of the industry and are closely monitoring future developments.

Additionally, Google's announcement regarding expanded payment options and reduced commission fees on Google Play drew significant attention in the Taiwanese market. Starting June 30, Google will officially separate service fees from payment processing costs, with the policy applying first to the U.S., Europe, and the U.K. Notably, developers will be charged a commission of only 10% on the first $1 million in annual revenue, regardless of whether they use Google's billing system, third-party payment providers, or out-links. This policy will take effect in South Korea on December 31 of this year and in Taiwan on September 30, 2027.

▣ June Taiwan PC Game Rankings

While MapleStory and MapleStory Worlds firmly held the top two spots, 'Lineage: Classic' surged to third place in June, fueled by nostalgia among veteran fans following the Oren and Ivory Tower dungeon updates and the addition of Siege War. The first siege on the classic server, held on the 21st, sparked intense reactions within the Bahamut community, reminiscent of Lineage's golden age. While NC also generated positive feedback by teasing a new class and releasing behind-the-scenes development stories, the game remained a hot topic in the community due to ongoing negative sentiment regarding 'Workshops' and other issues.

Beyond that, while traditional PC MMORPGs maintained their strong presence, DAVE THE DIVER climbed into the top 20 PC game rankings, bolstered by the release of its 'DREDGE' DLC and pre-registrations for its mobile version. The 'DREDGE' DLC, in particular, was well-received by both users and critics for its inclusion of new mini-games, maps, and features, alongside its core diving and restaurant management gameplay, earning scores of 86 on Metacritic and 92 on OpenCritic.

▣ June Taiwan Mobile Game Rankings

The most popular mobile game in Taiwan in June was SD Gundam G Generation Eternal. Following a mid-June update featuring the Stargazer Gundam, the game announced a roadmap on the 24th, introducing the Mobile Suit Gundam F91 main stage and a new 'E Simulator U.C.0079' event—an 'IF' scenario where Amuro pilots the Full Armor Gundam—capturing the interest of veteran fans. Meanwhile, Wuthering Waves, which took the top spot in May with its 3.3 version climax and the announcement of a Cyberpunk: Edgerunner collaboration, fell to third place in June during the collaboration period.

Meanwhile, Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond, which held a massive promotion for its first anniversary including 120 free card pack draws and a mega treasure chest event with a total prize pool of ¥100 million, received mixed reviews in the Taiwanese community due to server and web shop outages. Despite these issues, the situation drew significant attention from Taiwanese users, landing the game in 8th place on the buzz rankings.

In the free mobile game download rankings, casual games that have maintained steady service remained strong, while 37 Interactive Entertainment's new mini-game 'Survival 33 Days' drew attention by reaching 6th place on Google Play and 5th on the App Store. By actively integrating its proprietary AI model, 'Xiaoqi,' into the production process to automatically generate graphic assets, sound, and short-form ad materials, the game drastically reduced costs. It targeted fans of post-apocalyptic survival casual games through aggressive performance and AI-smart targeting marketing. The game is gaining attention in the Taiwanese industry for its unique approach, such as eliminating early-game fatigue and using an extreme design where resources are earned solely by watching ads to maximize retention.

In terms of revenue, social casinos, SLGs, and MMORPGs dominated the top ranks, while Pikmin Bloom reached 5th on Google Play and 3rd on the App Store, driven by its June Big Flower event. Wuthering Waves, despite its Cyberpunk: Edgerunner collaboration, only reached 7th on Google Play. Meanwhile, Gravity's other Ragnarok IP mobile MMORPG, 'Ragnarok: The New World,' climbed to 9th in App Store revenue following a massive world promotion and re-engagement marketing for its half-year anniversary. However, allegations of an item duplication bug in late June and the operator's lukewarm response have become a hot topic in the community, and its future trajectory will likely depend on how the situation is handled.

▣ Jump All-Star Brawl

Licensed by DeNA and SHUEISHA, 'Jump All-Star Brawl' is a 3vs3 brawler featuring characters from popular Jump titles like One Piece, Naruto, and Demon Slayer. The game is characterized by its intense combat, allowing players to control various popular characters in familiar settings ranging from the Tenkaichi Budokai to Marineford and the Mugen Train.

▣ Mabinogi Mobile

'Mabinogi Mobile,' which recorded the highest MAU in the domestic mobile MMO category after its launch last March, will be released in Taiwan on July 22. Having been praised domestically for successfully refining the original's warm sentiment and romanticism for the current generation, it is expected to perform well in Taiwan, where the original title remains popular.

▣ Ragnarok 3

Gravity's official numbered sequel, 'Ragnarok 3,' is holding a CBT from June 25 to July 2. First unveiled in 2024, Ragnarok 3 promised more expansive content and adventure experiences last year, featuring 3D-evolved visuals, enhanced dungeons, a multiverse concept, and free trading. Following a global test last August, the developers plan to improve the game's quality by checking the results of feedback applied from previous CBTs.

▣ Dragon Sword: Awakening

Hound13's open-world action RPG, 'Dragon Sword: Awakening,' will be released globally via Steam on July 23. Originally launched in Korea as a live-service game via Webzen last January, the developer terminated the publishing contract due to conflicts arising from Webzen's failure to pay the minimum guarantee (MG), leading the developer to self-publish the package version. The game showcased its unique switching action at the Steam Next Fest in June, ranking in the top 50 most-played games and surpassing 300k Steam wishlists.