Logos of Zakazane and Neowiz (left to right) | Image by Neowiz
Neowiz (Co-CEOs Seungchul Kim and Tae-Geun Bae) announced on the 11th that it had signed a publishing contract with Polish game developer Zakazane. The investment is valued at $8 million.
With this contract, Neowiz gains global publishing rights to Zakazane’s debut PC and console game, a single-player RPG set in a Western noir world. The story unfolds around a sheriff arriving at a remote mine, leading players into a mysterious narrative.
Founded in 2022 in Warsaw, Zakazane comprises developers from CD Projekt Red (known for The Witcher series and Cyberpunk 2077) and 11bit Studio (known for This War of Mine and Frostpunk series). The company is led by Jan Bartkowicz and received a $1 million investment from The Games Fund in September last year.
Zakazane aligns with Neowiz’s focus on discovering narrative-driven global IP and building franchises. The two companies plan to work closely to establish the new game as a lasting franchise, aiming to captivate gamers worldwide. Neowiz sees this as an opportunity to expand its PC and console lineup and strengthen its global publishing capabilities.
Seungchul Kim, Co-CEO of Neowiz, said, “This agreement reflects our shared vision of creating narrative-driven PC and console games. We are excited to work with our ideal partner, Zakazane, to deliver a game that will be a true gift to PC and console gamers.”
Jan Bartkowicz, CEO of Zakazane, commented, “Neowiz is a gaming company that understands and supports our development direction. We believe gaming’s value extends beyond the individual to cultural and business dimensions, which makes this partnership even more meaningful.”
Zakazane is the second overseas developer Neowiz has partnered with following its investment in Polish developer Blank last November. Neowiz plans to continue strategically investing in and partnering with companies globally to discover new IPs that will fuel its future growth.
Pangyo Techno Valley is a global integrated R&D hub focused on IT, BT, CT, and NT, integrating Research (R), People (P), Information (I), and Trade (T). As Gyeonggi-do’s representative innovation cluster, Pangyo Techno Valley was established to secure national new growth drivers such as technological innovation, human resource development, job creation, and enhancing international business competitiveness. As of 2023, 1,666 companies employ 78,751 people, and it has positioned itself as the most innovative hub in South Korea, with sales amounting to 167.7 trillion KRW (125.5 billion USD).
Furthermore, the Techno Valley Innovation Division of the Gyeonggi-do Business & Science Accelerator (GBSA) holds monthly events such as the Pangyo Evening Meet-Up, Pan-Pan Day, and the Pangyo Startup Investment Exchange “In-Best Pangyo” to maximize the value of Pangyo Techno Valley. They also support the Pangyo Overseas Promotion Program, which publicizes information about Pangyo’s companies, products, and services to domestic and foreign investors and the media, thereby facilitating foreign investment.
