CHZZK: Naver's Entry into Game Streaming After Twitch's Exit

South Korean internet giant Naver is entering the game streaming market, initiating a Closed Beta Test (CBT) of its upcoming platform, called ‘CHZZK.’ The closed beta is currently exclusive to Naver’s employees, with an Open Beta Test (OBT) scheduled to commence on February 19.

The full official service rollout is expected in the coming year. Naver’s strategic move comes on the heels of Twitch, a subsidiary of Amazon and the current market leader in South Korea’s game streaming space, announcing an abrupt shutdown of its service on February 27, 2024. Twitch attributed this decision to escalating operational costs.

Recognizing the void in the market, Naver, a leading South Korean technology company, swiftly initiated a Closed Beta Test (CBT) for its game streaming service ‘CHZZK.’

Naver’s CHZZK will now vie against YouTube and local platform AfreecaTV to establish its presence in the burgeoning game streaming market.

Twitch CEO Dan Clancy conveyed the decision to close, noting the prohibitive expenses associated with operating the platform in South Korea. This announcement has led to local competitors seizing the opportunity to fill the void left by Twitch’s departure.

With Twitch’s exit from the Korean market, ‘CHZZK’ emerges as a potential replacement, drawing industry interest. If Naver successfully integrates ‘CHZZK’ into its Naver Games platform, there’s speculation that it could attract Twitch’s user base, leading to business value potentially exceeding 1 trillion won, according to analysts.

Naver has started a four-day closed beta test (CBT) for its game streaming service, named ‘CHZZK’ tentatively, involving a game tournament among its employees. The tournament, featuring StarCraft and League of Legends matches, runs until December 8, engaging 380 employees as participants.

Naver’s decision to utilize its employee base for the CBT aims to ensure the smooth functionality of the game streaming service, with plans to extend the testing phase through an open beta test (OBT) starting on December 19. The official launch of ‘CHZZK’ is slated for the first half of next year, marking Naver’s strategic entry into the game streaming market, particularly as Twitch exits the Korean market.

Naver Game plans to provide a dedicated ‘Games’ section for communication between game companies and users. Further, it also plans to operate an ‘E-Sports’ section offering e-Sports information and a ‘PC Game’ section for online gaming enthusiasts.

A Naver official emphasized the community aspect, stating that the streaming function is a part of the community’s expansion strategy. The company aims to strengthen its community functions by integrating streaming services, treating them as a communal feature.

Naver has already secured various video-related technologies to provide a seamless experience. The game streaming service is expected to offer high-definition (HD) resolution, specifically 1080p, with a user-friendly interface tailored for game broadcasting. Additionally, it will introduce community communication features and a creator sponsor option, setting it apart from Twitch, which faces limitations in offering video-on-demand (VOD) services due to network usage fee concerns.

The platform’s success is anticipated to hinge on attracting star streamers, with figures like Nokduro, who currently holds a major viewer share on Twitch, reportedly considering a move to the upcoming Naver platform.

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