Nexon hosted the Blue Archive Kibotos Run 2026 on June 14 at Misa Lake Park in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province, attracting 4,500 participants from the mobile RPG Blue Archive.
The event area was bustling with attendees wearing Blue Archive event T-shirts and cosplay outfits before 8 a.m. on the day of the event.
Kim Yong-ha, Chief PD of Blue Archive, stated, "I wanted to organize a running event to promote health among Blue Archive users, so I planned this 5-kilometer marathon a year ago. I hope to hold more unique events with our users in the future."
The event allowed participants to contribute to a charitable cause, with all 4,500 tickets selling out in just seven minutes, reflecting strong interest from the community. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Purme Foundation's Nexon Children's Rehabilitation Hospital to assist in rehabilitation treatments for children with disabilities.
Participants from Cheongju, Incheon, and Pyeongtaek expressed their motivation for joining the event, saying, "It feels meaningful to participate in a charity event." They also noted that the 'completion medal' awarded for finishing the marathon is a valuable collectible, which encouraged them to complete the race.
On the day of the event, Kim Yong-ha and other developers from Blue Archive started the marathon at the front, running alongside the participants. They carried large balloons labeled 'Developer' and took time to interact with users along the course. Before the start, participants cheered the developers' names, showing their affection for the game. The developers welcomed the later participants at the finish line.
Participants came from various regions, including Seoul, Gyeonggi, Chungbuk, and Gyeongnam. Some arrived in Seoul a day early for cosplay, while others had been training for the run for a month.
As a non-professional marathon event focused on community engagement, many participants prioritized completing the race over achieving fast times. Nexon set up four water stations along the course and installed cooling fans at key points to ensure participant safety.
One participant remarked, "I don’t usually run, but this marathon event is unique and enjoyable. I hope we can have a sports day event like in Blue Archive next time." Another participant from Geoje shared, "I arrived two days early to enjoy the event, including watching baseball. I hope future events are held outside the capital region as well."
Kim Yong-ha commented on the rising popularity of subculture games following Blue Archive, stating, "Since the launch of Blue Archive, many subculture games have emerged in Korea, and the user base has grown significantly, establishing a strong subculture culture here."
Blue Archive, released in 2021, is a subculture game that leverages a fandom culture based on Japanese-style animation. Nexon first launched the game in Japan, creating a notable case of reverse export in the subculture gaming sector. Following Blue Archive, Korean game companies are increasingly focusing on releasing subculture games to attract users. NCSoft is preparing to publish Big Game Studio's subculture RPG 'Limit Zero Breakers' and Dynamis One's 'Astraea Oratio' through publishing contracts.
After the marathon, an awards ceremony, lucky draw, and DJ performance took place. The event also featured a 'Shalle Store,' a completion photo zone, and sponsor booths.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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