G-Star 2024 is one of the biggest international exhibitions and conferences devoted to video games and the digital entertainment industry. Since 2005, the conference has been held in Busan, South Korea. In this article, we’ll tell you all about what to expect from the conference to help you decide whether to make the trip.
How G-Star Works
The Korea Association of Game Industry (K-Games) organizes the event with the support of the local government—the ministries of culture, sport, and tourism.
G-Star’s defining traits:
- G-Star spans all aspects of the gaming industry, from mobile and online games to PC and console projects. The exhibition is a hotspot for new developments, games, tech, and innovative approaches to game design.
- Aside from demonstrations for its vast audience, a significant part of G-Star is its B2B section. This is where meet-ups with developers, publishers, and investors take place, making G-Star an important platform for sealing deals and forging partnerships.
- The event attracts not only Korean companies such as Nexon, Netmarble, and NCSoft but also major international players in the gaming industry like Tencent, Microsoft, and Epic Games.
- G-Star is often the site of big e-sports tournaments, attracting professional players and drawing crowds.
- The conference also hosts plenty of lectures and workshops on various aspects of the gaming industry, from technical innovations to marketing strategies and industry trends.
G-Star is known as one of the key platforms for demonstrating new products and making international contacts in the gaming world, especially in Asia. The event sees an average of around 200,000 visitors each year.
How It All Started
- Foundation in 2005
At first, G-Star took place in Seoul (at the dedicated exhibition and conference center KINTEX) and attracted the attention of local and international game developers alike. At that time, South Korea was already renowned for its online games and rapidly-growing gaming market, particularly in the MMORPG and e-sport genres. G-Star was intended to be a showcase for these achievements.
- The move to Busan
In 2009, the conference was moved to Busan, South Korea’s second-largest city. This proved an important step in increasing the scale and logistics of the event, since Busan’s exhibition complex (BEXCO) offered more space and opportunities for growth.
- Emergence on the global scene
Over the years, G-Star began to attract not only South Korean companies but also international players such as Sony, Microsoft, Epic Games, and Tencent. G-Star has become a key platform for launching projects in the Asian market as well as making international deals in the sphere of game development and publishing.
- Expanding the format
As the conference evolved, its reach expanded beyond PC and console games. It now also encompasses mobile games as well as VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) technologies. New ways of interacting have emerged, including the BTB sections—the sites of business negotiations between developers, publishers, and investors.
- The rising popularity of e-sports
With the increasing popularity of e-sports in the 2010s, G-Star became a major platform for holding high-profile tournaments and presenting e-sports projects. This created an even bigger buzz among gamers but also sponsors, investors, and the media.
- Virtual events
In recent years—particularly after 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic led to limitations on public events—G-Star has begun to actively implement digital technologies that make it possible to access the exhibition online.
What to Expect from G-Star 2024
Like every year starting from 2009, the conference will be held at BEXCO in Busan. The upcoming conference’s slogan is “Expand Your Horizons.”
Speakers from leading gaming companies will feature at the conference: Square Enix, Insomniac Games, Roblox, Nexon, Sega, Steam, and plenty more.
Korean company Krafton will showcase their upcoming InZOI, Dinkum Mobile, and Project ARC, among many other games.
The conference is expected to break current records and promises to be as big as possible—which is only fitting, considering how this year marks the event’s twentieth anniversary.
What Previous Conferences Had in Store
G-Star’s role as an important platform for high-profile announcements keeps growing with each year, especially for Korean studios, which use the event to showcase their most ambitious projects.
G-Star 2021
Krafton, the creators of PUBG, presented PUBG: New State. With enhanced graphics and new mechanics, this game was a major update to the original PUBG.
After it was announced in 2019, DokeV from Pearl Abyss continued to make waves. G-Star 2021, however, revealed new information and trailers that debuted a vibrant open world to explore.
G-Star 2022
NCSoft announced multiple releases, such as Throne and Liberty, an MMORPG with impressive graphics and an ambitious world. This was one of the most hotly-anticipated projects at the exhibition.
Nexon presented several games, including The First Descendant, a shooter with RPG elements, and showed new details about their mobile game KartRider: Drift.
G-Star 2023
NCSoft announced BSS, a mobile RPG based on Blade & Soul. Netmarble announced three new games: The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin, Demis Re:Born, and RF Online Next.
FAQ
Let’s break down some frequently asked questions about the conference.
Where Can I Buy Tickets?
Tickets can be purchased on the conference’s website, with different options for BTC and B2B visitors as well as children. A children’s ticket costs 8,000 Korean won (5.7 dollars or 5.3 euro), and an adult ticket is 15,000 won (11 dollars or 10 euro).
When and Where Will the Conference Take Place?
G-Star will take place at BEXCO in Busan from 14–17 November 2024. The conference will be divided into two sections, BTC and BTB. The BTC events will take place between 10 AM and 6 PM, while BTB events will be held between 12 PM and 6 PM each day.
BEXCO is the biggest exhibition and conference center in Busan.
How Do I Get There?
The conference will be hosted at 55 APEC-ro Busan Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. BEXCO is accessible via metro, bus, or a KTX train from other cities in South Korea, such as Seoul.
Use the pin on the map for greater accuracy and also consult the information provided on BEXCO’s official website.
Where Should I Stay?
There are several hotels near BEXCO, such as Centum Primus Hotel, Haeundae Centum Hotel, and Centum Business Hotel. On average, one night costs between 30 and 60 dollars/euro.
