In South Korea, the gaming majority spend their times at “PC Bangs,” or internet cafes. There they have strict rules and regulations regarding gaming, but it does not stop most Korean youth from playing day in and day out. For the past four years theses PC Bangs have been the home for League of Legends fanatics throughout Korea. That was until Overwatch launched, and a number of PC Bangs made the game freely available on their machines. Over the past five to six weeks we have watched the number climb in South Korea, and today Overwatch has officially overtaken League of Legends as the most played game in PC Bangs in South Korea.
Gametrics, the site which has been monitoring the data closely since the launch, announced yesterday that Overwatch has hit the 30% share of the market, with League of Legends still standing at 27%.
@PlayOverwatch officially breaks LoL’s 204 week internet cafe record in Korea. @ggDoA pic.twitter.com/lIzbsMZIM9
— Calycae (@Calycae) June 27, 2016
This rise in Overwatch is largely because the game is free within these PC Bangs. The data does not reflect what happens in the homes of Korean gamers, and there’s a safe assumption that League of Legends still is the largest game in South Korea. It pains most that Overwatch comes with a hefty $40 price tag, but it’s a once off fee which is well worth every cent. The PC Bangs in South Korea are a massive business. According to the Daily Dot, League of Legends is available for $1 an hour and all characters are unlocked. You’re also able to unlock in-game currency which allows you to use it for a game or two of Overwatch, which is also $1 an hour.
There’s a booming interest for competitive Overwatch in South Korea, a place that worships professional gamers who are seen as celebrities. Some of the professional players in top teams have already reached stardom in South Korea, despite never setting foot in the country. Popular players such as Brandon “Seagull” Larned have already been interviewed by South Korean websites, and Seagull is easily one of the most popular professional players in the world.
With the rise in Overwatch in PC Bangs, it won’t be long before the game enters the homes of South Korean gamers and continues pushing League of Legends who has held the title of number one eSport (in the world) for almost four years.
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Last Updated: June 28, 2016
Frik van der Hewerskink
June 28, 2016 at 15:08
still only in internet cafes though, it needs to go bigger :p
Kromas GG
June 28, 2016 at 15:19
Almost 1000 sigs. Come on guys we need ZA Overwatch servers. Sign the petition.
https://www.change.org/p/blizzard-investigate-south-african-overwatch-server-viability?recruiter=63435440&utm_source=petitions_show_components_action_panel_wrapper&utm_medium=copylink
CongoKyle
June 28, 2016 at 17:01
We really don’t though.
GooseZA
June 28, 2016 at 17:10
You worried about finding games / staying competitive if we don’t join EU?
Kromas GG
June 28, 2016 at 17:36
That would not be an issue as blizzard has a slider that lets you change regions.
Kromas GG
June 28, 2016 at 17:36
Noted … also disagree.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 28, 2016 at 15:20
http://img-9gag-fun.9cache.com/photo/aPWyQjG_460sa.gif
GooseZA
June 28, 2016 at 17:11
This is amazing.
Johann Smit
June 28, 2016 at 15:39
Will never beat League Of Legends, simply because the game is not free. And now SA players want Local Overwatch servers….lololololol have you guys seen our local Dota 2 servers?? Think again. Anyway there are way way way more LoL players than Overwatch players in SA, still they are waiting for local servers. Will never happen.
Kromas GG
June 28, 2016 at 17:38
Waiting and not doing anything about it are going to ensure they will never get their servers. Last time I check they had a petition a while back with 40 sigs. 40 sigs mean nothing. And making hundreds of forums posts with 2 maybe 3 people commenting won’t work either.
Yondaime
June 28, 2016 at 16:59
Lol Battleborn….what a shame.