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HYBE announces plans to diversify offerings to K-pop fans in 2022
By Andy Malt | Published on Thursday 4 November 2021
Steady yourself, HYBE is planning a whole load of new-fangled digital gubbins in 2022. And that’s what we were all waiting for, right? The South Korean entertainment firm will use its roster of artists, including BTS, to launch online cartoons, video games, NFTs and more.
At a press conference this morning, the company unveiled various projects. Online animations featuring BTS, TXT and Enhyphen are all set to launch next year, through Korean tech firm Naver’s online cartoon platform.
BTS will also star in a new video game, expected to launch in the first half of next year. Details are light, but the group’s Suga said that “you’ll get to enjoy a game we’ve put effort in”, while his bandmate Jimin added: “I want people to relax by playing this game”. So, er, no that doesn’t really tell you anything.
Because it’s now and the bubble hasn’t yet burst on this utter nonsense, HYBE is also planning to get into the NFT game too. It has partnered with fin-tech company Dunamu to start developing a load of old shit in that domain.
Elsewhere, HYBE announced plans to merge its Weverse direct-to-fan platform with the livestreaming set-up of the aforementioned Naver, that being V Live. The fancy new version of Weverse is set to launch in the first half of 2022.
Beyond that, HYBE America is still planning to launch a new girl group in partnership with Universal Music’s Geffen label, and HYBE Japan is putting together a new boyband. So there will be plenty more artists to funnel into cartoons, games and NFTs. They might even make some music too.