Following its PC version showcase at Tokyo Game Show (TGS) 2026 last month, Smilegate will expand its reach to domestic audiences at G-STAR 2026.
According to the gaming industry on October 1, Smilegate will present *Future City* at the Google Play booth during G-STAR 2026, scheduled for November at BEXCO in Busan.
While not setting up a large-scale independent booth, the company will utilize its partner's space to offer gameplay demonstrations and hands-on experiences for attendees.
*Future City* is Smilegate's upcoming subculture-themed game. It previously debuted its PC version at Tokyo Game Show 2026, where players could experience combat mechanics and character animations. The event served as a pre-release gauge of user feedback.
At G-STAR, the focus will reportedly remain on the PC demo, leveraging Google Play's collaboration. This aligns with the strategy seen at TGS, aiming to strengthen domestic engagement through PC gameplay.
Google Play has consistently partnered with major developers at G-STAR to host demos and interactive events for new and popular titles. Its booth has become an alternative exhibition channel for studios without independent spaces.
This year, domestic giants Krafton and Webzen are the only ones with large booths, while many slots are filled by Chinese and Japanese developers, sparking debates about “local exclusion.” However, Smilegate's inclusion of *Future City* in the lineup helps balance the representation between local and international developers.
Collaborations between game studios and platform/hardware partners at global events are increasingly common. This approach reduces costs and leverages partners' audience-drawing power while still providing player experiences.
For instance, Pearl Abyss showcased *Red Sails* at Samsung Electronics' booth during Gamescom 2024 in August. At TGS 2026, ShiftUp unveiled the Nintendo Switch 2 version of *Stellar Blade* for the first time via Sega and Atlas' booth.
