Chapter 5: Corporate Warfare Begins
Chapter 5: Corporate Warfare Begins
The neon skyline of Seoul gleamed in the night, casting a futuristic glow over the city. In a small but rapidly growing office, Jin Hoshino sat at his desk, analyzing the latest revenue reports.
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✔ 50,000+ arcade copies sold in the first month.
✔ ₩100,000,000+ in revenue generated.
✔ ₩45,000,000 in net profit for NexTech Studios.
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Jin smirked. Battle Zone had exceeded expectations. His company, once a nobody in the gaming world, had suddenly become a rising giant.
But the moment success appeared, so did enemies.
Because GameSphere had noticed him.
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The First Strike
Two days later, Hwan Jae-suk, CEO of Hwan Electronics, called Jin. His voice was tense.
"We have a problem."
Jin leaned back in his chair. "GameSphere?"
"Yes. They're pressuring arcade owners to remove Battle Zone. If they don't comply, GameSphere will cut off their supply of arcade machines."
Jin's eyes narrowed.
This was a monopoly move—GameSphere was using its industry control to suppress competition.
They don't see me as a competitor. They see me as a threat.
"Most arcades can't afford to lose GameSphere's machines," Hwan continued. "Many of them are backing out of their deals with you."
Jin stayed silent, thinking.
If he did nothing, Battle Zone would die in arcades within weeks.
If he counterattacked carelessly, GameSphere could crush him financially.
But he wasn't just a game developer anymore.
He was a businessman.
"Then we go around them," Jin said.
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Jin's Counterattack
For the next three days, Jin launched his counter-strategy.
✔ Direct Arcade Partnerships – Instead of relying on distributors, Jin personally met arcade owners, offering better revenue shares than GameSphere.
✔ Esports Tournaments – He announced the first-ever Battle Zone Championship, with ₩10,000,000 in prize money. Arcades that hosted it would gain more customers than ever.
✔ Underground Arcades & Rival Networks – Not all arcades relied on GameSphere's machines. Jin formed partnerships with rogue arcade chains, ones GameSphere had neglected.
✔ Media Warfare – Jin leaked GameSphere's blackmail tactics to gaming magazines, turning public opinion against them.
By the end of the week, the damage was contained.
Instead of dying, Battle Zone became more popular than ever.
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GameSphere's Next Move
One week later, GameSphere struck back harder.
✔ They bribed arcade owners to remove Battle Zone.
✔ They blocked NexTech Studios from gaming expos.
✔ They hired lawyers to file a ₩500,000,000 lawsuit, claiming Battle Zone copied their game mechanics.
Jin received the legal notice in his office.
Most startups would panic at a lawsuit this big.
Jin?
He laughed.
"They think a lawsuit will stop me?"
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The Courtroom War & Public Manipulation
Jin didn't just defend himself in court—he turned the lawsuit into a marketing tool.
✔ Publicly challenged GameSphere to a live Battle Zone tournament. If they won, he'd pay the lawsuit amount. If he won, they'd withdraw the lawsuit.
✔ Hired top legal experts using his gaming profits to counter their claims.
✔ Launched a marketing campaign titled "Gaming Freedom", framing GameSphere as an oppressive corporation killing creativity.
The public turned against GameSphere.
Gaming magazines, newspapers, and even TV channels supported NexTech Studios.
By the end of the court battle, GameSphere's lawyers realized they couldn't win.
The lawsuit was withdrawn.
GameSphere had lost.
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Jin's Final Move: The PC Gaming Expansion
The moment the lawsuit ended, Jin made his boldest move yet.
He released Battle Zone on PC.
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✔ 200,000+ digital copies sold in the first three months.
✔ Revenue skyrocketed past ₩300,000,000.
✔ NexTech Studios officially entered the home gaming market.
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GameSphere's monopoly over arcades no longer mattered.
Jin had escaped their control.
This wasn't just a victory.
It was the beginning of an empire.
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The Aftermath & The Next Industry Move
Jin stood in his new, expanded office, overlooking the Seoul skyline.
His company had survived its first corporate war.
But this was just the start.
If he wanted true power, he needed to control an entire gaming ecosystem.
His next move?
The NexBox—his own gaming console.
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End of Chapter 5