GXC
GameStartup
- Website : https://gameround.co
- Location : 3th Floor 217, Jungang-ro, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, Korea
G.Round is a global game business platform that helps promising games successfully launch by gathering feedback from global gamers before the release of game content, identifying regions with high potential for success based on big data, and matching publishers and investors using user preference data. The platform has secured over 420,000 global gamers and more than 50 global influencers, and has sourced and tested over 400 games from more than 190 countries worldwide (16% from North America, 13% from South America, 57% from Europe, 6% from Asia, and 9% from Southeast Asia).
The main business model of G.Round is the Focus Group Test (FGT) fee. It involves conducting closed tests with global users based on requests from game companies above a certain size and charging a fee for the service.
- Option to conduct either open or closed tests.
- Collection of qualitative and quantitative feedback data from a diverse group of global gamers.
- Game improvement based on global user feedback (through reviews, surveys, community feedback, 1:1 meetings, gameplay videos, etc.).
- Determination of priority regions for launch based on demographic information of participating users (nationality, gender, age, etc.).
- Identification of suitable business partners, such as publishers and investment institutions, based on user preference data.
- Pre-launch activities such as community building, and proactive handling of negative feedback and technical issues.
The main business model of G.Round is the Focus Group Test (FGT) fee. It involves conducting closed tests with global users based on requests from game companies above a certain size and charging a fee for the service.
- Option to conduct either open or closed tests.
- Collection of qualitative and quantitative feedback data from a diverse group of global gamers.
- Game improvement based on global user feedback (through reviews, surveys, community feedback, 1:1 meetings, gameplay videos, etc.).
- Determination of priority regions for launch based on demographic information of participating users (nationality, gender, age, etc.).
- Identification of suitable business partners, such as publishers and investment institutions, based on user preference data.
- Pre-launch activities such as community building, and proactive handling of negative feedback and technical issues.
Business Description
Differentiated Game Content Sourcing
The core competitive edge that has enabled G.Round's successful operation, completing over 400 tests* in the four years since its launch in late July 2020, is its global game sourcing capability. GXC acquired GTR (Global Top Round), a game-specialized accelerator that discovers and invests in top indie games worldwide through its annual GTR conference, in 2017. This acquisition has enabled GXC to build its global game sourcing capabilities. With its own game database (approximately 4,000 games), GXC can source games from various countries.
- Securing Specialized Game Users
Since its launch, G.Round has secured global gamers through SNS marketing and professional influencers (50+). By managing operations on global community Discord by game and region, G.Round has secured around 420,000 gamers from more than 190 countries. Among them, G.Round manages about 20,000 active users who regularly test games and around 1,000 professional testers. Securing users who can play pre-launch games, provide feedback, and communicate with developers globally is challenging. Acquiring high-quality users suitable for conducting FGT (Focus Group Test) services is even more difficult. However, G.Round has successfully secured such users, which has earned praise from clients*.
*Examples of clients include Kakao Games, LINE Games, 2bytes, Serenity Forge, and other medium to large domestic and international game publishers.
- Flexible Platform Scalability
G.Round is evolving by planning to add new business models in phases based on game content, users, and the network of related game industry stakeholders (game companies, distributors, investors, etc.) it has built so far. In 2024, G.Round plans to introduce an XCBT (Closed Beta Test) in a tournament format where users can actively participate. Additionally, there are plans to expand into a game content distribution store, the G.Round Store, where games tested on the platform can be directly sold upon launch. Furthermore, G.Round is continuously researching and developing a model where investors and publishers can compare and choose games for investment based on user preference data held by G.Round.
-Fundraising Achievements
GXC has raised more than 20 billion KRW (approximately $15 million) from investors like DS Asset Management, KDB Industrial Bank, and Hana Financial Investment. As of 2024, GXC is in the Pre-Series B stage, aiming to raise 8 billion KRW (approximately $6 million). So far, around 1.4 billion KRW has been committed, with most of the remaining amount in soft commitments.
- Global Expansion Achievements
G.Round is a global service used across various countries, providing playtesting services to clients regardless of their location, based on a global tester base. Currently, around 70% of G.Round's FGT paid services are for international clients. Additionally, G.Round is in discussions to sell vouchers in B2G businesses with government clients from countries like Taiwan, Malaysia, Malta, and Morocco, and further expansion is expected in the future.
The core competitive edge that has enabled G.Round's successful operation, completing over 400 tests* in the four years since its launch in late July 2020, is its global game sourcing capability. GXC acquired GTR (Global Top Round), a game-specialized accelerator that discovers and invests in top indie games worldwide through its annual GTR conference, in 2017. This acquisition has enabled GXC to build its global game sourcing capabilities. With its own game database (approximately 4,000 games), GXC can source games from various countries.
- Securing Specialized Game Users
Since its launch, G.Round has secured global gamers through SNS marketing and professional influencers (50+). By managing operations on global community Discord by game and region, G.Round has secured around 420,000 gamers from more than 190 countries. Among them, G.Round manages about 20,000 active users who regularly test games and around 1,000 professional testers. Securing users who can play pre-launch games, provide feedback, and communicate with developers globally is challenging. Acquiring high-quality users suitable for conducting FGT (Focus Group Test) services is even more difficult. However, G.Round has successfully secured such users, which has earned praise from clients*.
*Examples of clients include Kakao Games, LINE Games, 2bytes, Serenity Forge, and other medium to large domestic and international game publishers.
- Flexible Platform Scalability
G.Round is evolving by planning to add new business models in phases based on game content, users, and the network of related game industry stakeholders (game companies, distributors, investors, etc.) it has built so far. In 2024, G.Round plans to introduce an XCBT (Closed Beta Test) in a tournament format where users can actively participate. Additionally, there are plans to expand into a game content distribution store, the G.Round Store, where games tested on the platform can be directly sold upon launch. Furthermore, G.Round is continuously researching and developing a model where investors and publishers can compare and choose games for investment based on user preference data held by G.Round.
-Fundraising Achievements
GXC has raised more than 20 billion KRW (approximately $15 million) from investors like DS Asset Management, KDB Industrial Bank, and Hana Financial Investment. As of 2024, GXC is in the Pre-Series B stage, aiming to raise 8 billion KRW (approximately $6 million). So far, around 1.4 billion KRW has been committed, with most of the remaining amount in soft commitments.
- Global Expansion Achievements
G.Round is a global service used across various countries, providing playtesting services to clients regardless of their location, based on a global tester base. Currently, around 70% of G.Round's FGT paid services are for international clients. Additionally, G.Round is in discussions to sell vouchers in B2G businesses with government clients from countries like Taiwan, Malaysia, Malta, and Morocco, and further expansion is expected in the future.
