Krafton has partnered with South Korean game company Neptune, the operator of game publishing platform Flick, to launch a new global game development competition with $5 million in funding.
The money will take the form of funding and publishing support for selected projects from entrepreneurial applications.
The Flick x Krafton Casual Game Challenge is open to developers and indie studios worldwide, with applications running from April 21 through May 18 and final selections announced in July. Selected teams will receive funding and work with Flick, Neptune’s publishing platform, to refine, test, and launch their games globally.
The challenge is open to both completed titles and early-stage prototypes, giving developers an opportunity to bring new ideas to market with hands-on publishing and operational support. Flick is designed to help developers quickly validate and scale their games, combining publishing expertise with data-driven insights and live operations support throughout development and launch.
The competition focuses on hybrid casual games, a fast-growing segment that blends simple, accessible gameplay with deeper progression systems and long-term engagement. These games typically combine in-app purchases and advertising, allowing developers to build scalable and sustainable experiences.
Through this partnership, Krafton and Neptune are bringing together global publishing experience, mobile development expertise, and monetization capabilities to identify high-potential games and support them from early development through global release.
Developers can learn more and submit their projects through the official website at https://flickdifferent.com. Applications will be accepted from April 21 to May 18, with selected projects moving forward into development and testing for a potential global launch.
Krafton is in a high-profile lawsuit with the founders of Unknown Worlds, the maker of Subnautica, where it allegedly ousted the founders to avoid paying a $250 million bonus.
Krafton is a big publicly traded company that publishes franchises like PUBG: Battlegrounds, PUBG Mobile, inZOI and Hi-Fi Rush. Neptune is primarily engaged in mobile game development and publishing, as well as an adtech-based advertising monetization platform business. Flick is Neptune’s hybrid casual game publishing brand.