Failure to Launch: Why 4K Gaming Hasn’t Taken off with Korean Gamers
by Kyle Hovanec
No matter which kind of gaming you’re into, it’s impossible to ignore the recent rallying towards 4K. Whether with movies, monitors or consoles, this higher resolution is being pushed by hardware and software developers as the next visual standard for all forms of entertainment. With Sony’s recent release of the PS4 Pro and Microsoft’s upcoming reveal of their own 4K console (codenamed the Scorpio), the drive for 4K has never been stronger.
Korea has also been heavily involved on the 4K front, with 4K-capable monitors and TVs from big name manufacturers like Samsung and LG. Along with plans for 4K broadcasts, it only seems like a matter of time before Korea is fully immersed in this newest visual standard. But while the country’s manufacturers are indeed on the forefront of 4K, Korean gamers may have to wait a little longer before it becomes the visual standard that is seen in PC Bangs across the country.
PC Bangs are designed to appeal to eager gamers with cheap usage costs (many sometimes being as cheap as 1,000 won per hour), snacks, beverages and PCs loaded with the most popular online games ready for you to log into and play. With this low cost of entry, PC Bangs make a majority of their revenue through the concessions sold and the relatively low-cost employees are paid to maintain each space. PCs are updated with the necessary specs to handle most major games without technical issues.
According to a recent study by Gametrics, out of the 5 most played PC games in Korea, the two heaviest hitters, League of Legends (LOL) and Overwatch are considered “flexible” games when it comes to specs. Other titles lower on the charts like Sudden Attack, Starcraft and FIFA Online 3 are also being flexible when it comes to the hardware required to play. Medium to lower-end PC’s can handle these games with little effort, requiring very little horsepower and offer only incremental visual improvements on a 4K rig.
With the costs to build a true 4K capable PC rig starting at over 1,000,000 won (around $1,000), the money spent on building one of these PCs would not come close to the revenue earned to make up for the cost at even the busiest PC bang. When you consider that most PC bangs have dozens of gaming-ready PCs, this cost is increased even more. Even if owners were to purchase 4K ready monitors as replacements without the hardware to take advantage of them, it would be an almost pointless gesture.
Consoles being the answer to the 4K renaissance in Korea is an even greater long shot. Unlike other territories where console sales are strong and consistent (North America and Europe), sales in Korea are relatively smaller. While Korea has recently seen an increase in console sales, especially with the Playstation, it’s nowhere near enough to start a 4K revolution. The teenage demographic, a typically reliable source of console sales in other territories, shows no potential due to the intensity of the Korean high school schedule. The second demographic of gamers aged 22 to 40 are more inclined to buy them as accessories to their gaming habits rather than their dedicated gaming platform of choice. Korea is a mobile and PC gaming culture first with consoles a distant second.
If 4K gaming is to become a norm sooner rather than later, there needs to be a clear benefit that comes into multiplayer and online based games rather than the epic detail and visual fidelity that is brought to single player epic adventures. Korean players don’t go to PC Bangs for solitary single player games, they go to play online with friends and put as much time as possible mastering their game of choice after an incredibly grueling day at school or the office. While all games benefit from a higher fidelity, especially those optimized for 4K, it’s not enough of a leap to encourage PC Bangs to invest in this pricey and still young format at its current cost of entry.
There may come a day when 4K becomes an industry standard, much like our current 1080p 60 frames per second did. Until then however, when the most popular titles are designed to play on as many machines as possible, bleeding edge visual fidelity is understandably lower on a Korean developer’s list, as well as PC Bang owners looking to stretch their won as far as possible. For those who seek 4K gaming, you most likely won’t find it on your local PC Bang anytime soon. Your best solution, as of now, is to pony up the cash and be the one that starts the revolution.
