Shuhei Yoshida criticizes publishers and predicts the rise of Korean indies

The industry veteran Shuhei Yoshida, former executive of Sony, criticized international game publishers, accusing them of ignoring the indie development scene in South Korea. Despite the criticism, Yoshida's vision for the future of the Korean industry is promising.

Yoshida expressed frustration with the lack of interest from foreign publishers in this market. The lack of support is a hindrance to growth, especially when compared to the Japanese scene, which saw a notable transformation after major companies and competitions focused on independent developers. Devolver Digital was cited as one of the few exceptions, reinforcing the idea that most of the publishing industry is missing out on a great opportunity.

Despite the lack of external support, Shuhei Yoshida states that the quality of Korean indie games is already "excellent." He predicts that the industry will take between "two and three years" to achieve the same level of global recognition as Japan. He believes it is only a matter of time before the international audience starts to value these titles.

South Korea has already proven its ability to create global successes with AAA titles. The positive reception to Lies of P and Stellar Blade shows that the country has the talent and potential to produce games that resonate with the international community. The success of these major titles may indicate that the indie scene in the country has the foundation and creative capacity for success in the near future.

Shuhei Yoshida's criticism serves as a warning to game publishers. While the lack of support is a problem, the prediction that the Korean indie scene will thrive in 2-3 years, combined with the country's proven success in the AAA market, indicates that South Korea is ready to establish itself as a global powerhouse in game development.