※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 key topics in Taiwan's gaming market in June. First, the 'East Asia Indie Game Festival,' initiated by Taiwanese indie developers, confirmed its second annual event will be held from August 5 to 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 the global platform Steam to promote a wide variety of titles to users through discount events.

Meanwhile, the Taiwanese government held a public hearing in June for the 'eSports Development Act' (tentative name), proposed to institutionalize the eSports industry and address legal gaps. At the hearing, Minister of Sports Cheng Wen-tsan announced plans to create investment funds via an eSports industry white paper, establish development and incentive programs, enact regulations to improve stadium environments, and provide direct budget support for tournament hosting and professional training. Taiwanese eSports experts praised the announcement as a solid institutional foundation for the long-term success of the industry and are closely monitoring future developments.

Google's announcement regarding expanded payment options and reduced commission fees on Google Play also 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, stirring nostalgia among veteran fans with updates to the Oren and Ivory Tower dungeons, followed by the addition of Siege War. The first Siege War on the classic server, held on the 21st, drew an enthusiastic response from users in the Bahamut community, reminiscent of Lineage's golden age. Although 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'.

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. After receiving a positive response for the mid-June Stargazer Gundam update, the game announced a roadmap on the 24th, introducing the Mobile Suit Gundam F91 main stage and a new event, 'E Simulator U.C.0079,' which explores an 'IF' scenario where Amuro pilots the Full Armor Gundam, drawing renewed interest from older fans. Meanwhile, Wuthering Waves, which took the top spot in May with its spectacular 3.3 version climax and the announcement of a Cyberpunk: Edgerunners collaboration, remained in third place during the collaboration month of June.

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. However, the incident drew significant attention from Taiwanese users, landing the game in 8th place in terms of buzz.

In the free mobile game download rankings, casual games that have maintained steady service showed strength, while 37 Interactive Entertainment's new mini-game 'Survival 33 Days' drew attention by ranking 6th on Google Play and 5th on the App Store. By actively incorporating its proprietary AI model, 'Xiaoqi,' into the production process to automatically generate graphic resources, sound, and short-form ad materials, the game significantly reduced costs. It targeted fans of post-apocalyptic survival casual games through aggressive performance marketing and AI-driven smart targeting. The game is also gaining attention in the Taiwanese gaming industry for its unique design, which eliminates early-game fatigue and maximizes retention by allowing players to acquire growth resources solely through watching ads.

In terms of revenue, social casinos, SLGs, and MMORPGs dominated the top ranks, while Pikmin Bloom reached 5th in Google Play revenue and 3rd in App Store revenue, thanks to its June Big Flower event. Wuthering Waves, despite its Cyberpunk: Edgerunners collaboration, only reached 7th on Google Play. Meanwhile, Gravity's other Ragnarok IP mobile MMORPG, 'Ragnarok: World Tour,' climbed to 9th in App Store revenue following a massive world promotion and returnee marketing campaign 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 the game's 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 3v3 brawler featuring characters from popular Jump titles such as 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 game remains popular.

▣ Ragnarok 3

Gravity's official numbered sequel, 'Ragnarok 3,' will hold a CBT from June 25 to July 2. First unveiled in 2024, Ragnarok 3 promised a more expansive content and adventure experience last year, featuring 3D visuals, enhanced dungeons, a multiverse concept, and a free trading system. Following a global test last August, the developers plan to improve the game's quality by incorporating feedback from this additional CBT.

▣ 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 through Webzen last January, the developer terminated the publishing contract due to conflicts arising from Webzen's failure to pay MG (Minimum Guarantee) and decided to self-publish as a 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.