Nexon CEO Lee Jeong-hun and Co-CEO Kang Dae-hyun presented artificial intelligence (AI) as an inevitable change in the gaming industry during the opening of the Nexon Developer Conference 2026 (NDC) on June 16. They emphasized that while AI is lowering barriers to game development, the true differentiation lies in human insight and the context built with users.
The NDC, held at the Gyeonggi Creative Economy Innovation Center in Seongnam, expanded its focus on AI this year, with 15 out of 51 sessions dedicated to AI-related topics. The conference aims to share the latest practical examples of integrating AI technology into game development amid a rapidly changing technological landscape.
In his welcoming remarks, Lee stated, "I resonate with the notion that AI represents a revolution akin to the internet and even the industrial revolution. What makes a difference in this undeniable flow of AI is human insight."
He added, "AI does not replace human work. It excels at tasks with predetermined answers. While we cannot predict how the AI era will evolve, we must view AI not as a competitor but as an excellent tool and means to be utilized proactively."
Kang Dae-hyun also addressed the theme of competition in an era where implementation is becoming easier. He noted that as AI reduces barriers to game development, a company's competitiveness will increasingly depend on 'contextual capital'—the accumulated knowledge and experience shared with users—rather than just technical implementation.
This includes developers' understanding of genres and user preferences, as well as their experience in operating live services.
Kang remarked, "The barriers to implementation are rapidly crumbling. While AI can generate code, images, and prototypes more quickly, we must remember that this ease applies to everyone, not just us."
He highlighted the intensifying competition in the gaming market, noting that the number of titles released on Steam has surged from about 2,800 in 2015 to nearly 20,000 in 2025. However, only 608 of these games, or about 3%, have received over 1,000 reviews. Furthermore, 57% of PC and console playtime in 2024 is expected to be concentrated on games released six years prior.
Kang believes that as implementation costs decrease, the focus of competition will shift to 'context.' While AI can quickly produce results, the time and relationships built between specific games and users cannot be easily replicated.
He redefined AI from two perspectives: the 'Artificial Intelligence' that everyone can access and the 'contextual capital' built from time spent with users, operational experience, and community culture. "The first AI is a weapon for all, but the second AI belongs to those who recognize the true value of context," he explained.
Kang concluded, "While AI can be acquired, contextual capital can only be built over time. In this era of easier implementation, we must excel in using the first AI while simultaneously building the second AI more robustly than anyone else."
The NDC 2026 began as a small internal presentation by Nexon and transitioned to an external event in 2011. Last year's conference attracted over 7,600 attendees in person and garnered 58,500 views during online broadcasts over three days.
This year's event runs from June 16 to 18 at Nexon's headquarters in Seongnam and the Gyeonggi Creative Economy Innovation Center. The sessions cover nine tracks, including artificial intelligence, game planning, programming, visual art & sound, production & operations, data, business & marketing, blockchain, and careers.
Speakers include employees from Nexon Company, Krafton, Roblox, NC AI, Google DeepMind, Snowflake, and other major domestic and international gaming and IT companies.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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