Kakao Games CEO Targets Global Market with Medieval Zombie Game 'God Save Birmingham' Early Access 2026
Company shifts strategy from RPG focus to Western-friendly genres as survival game debuts at Gamescom 2025
Kakao Games CEO Han Sang-woo announced the company's strategic pivot toward global markets during Gamescom 2025, using the medieval zombie survival game "God Save Birmingham" as a testcase for reaching Western audiences.
Breaking from RPG Tradition
Speaking at the Cologne gaming expo, Han acknowledged Kakao Games' heavy reliance on RPG titles but emphasized the need for diversification. "God Save Birmingham" has already generated millions of views on its trailer despite representing an unfamiliar genre for Korean developers.
The game, developed by subsidiary Ocean Drive Studio, places players in 14th-century Birmingham during a zombie apocalypse, requiring them to "survive an undead plague in a painstakingly recreated medieval market town" while managing hunger, thirst, and crafting needs.
Early Access Timeline Revealed
Han provided the first concrete release window, targeting early access for "late Q3 to early Q4" of 2026. The initial release will feature approximately one-quarter of the recreated Birmingham map in sandbox mode, with full campaign and complete town planned for later updates.
Creative Director Hyeonseong Cha described the game as inspired by survival titles like "Don't Starve" and "Project Zomboid," aiming to recreate that challenging first-day survival experience in a historically accurate medieval setting.
Western Market Strategy
The CEO addressed challenges facing Asian developers entering Western gaming markets. "It's important that Western markets accept an unfamiliar Eastern developer challenging mainstream genres without prejudice," Han stated, positioning Gamescom participation as crucial for establishing global credibility.
Ocean Drive Studio has invested heavily in historical accuracy, researching "various churches, manors, village centers, and other infrastructure that existed in Birmingham in real-life history" to create an authentic medieval experience.
Gameplay and Features
The survival game features physics-based mechanics allowing players to "wriggle your way out of harrowing situations" through environmental interaction. Players can barricade doors with furniture, dismember zombies, and navigate realistic trip hazards while scavenging in locations like the Church of St. Martin in the Bull Ring.
However, the game's recent 9-minute gameplay trailer has sparked controversy, with some viewers questioning whether the footage represents actual gameplay or pre-rendered sequences, drawing comparisons to previous gaming controversies.
Market Positioning
While expressing uncertainty about domestic Korean reception, Han committed to comprehensive localization including translation, voice acting, and community infrastructure. The company sees core gamers and enthusiasts as the primary Korean audience for this genre experiment.
Following PC early access on Steam, Ocean Drive Studio plans full releases on Xbox and PlayStation platforms, with Kakao Games handling global publishing, marketing, and localization while the studio maintains development control.
Industry Context
Han observed that Gamescom 2025 featured fewer major new releases than previous years, but noted that "long-developed and expanded franchise IPs continue to exert strong influence." This observation aligns with his long-term vision for Ocean Drive Studio to develop globally recognized franchise properties.
The game represents Kakao Games' broader strategy shift from Korea-focused RPG publishing toward global multi-genre expansion, with "God Save Birmingham" serving as a critical test of whether Korean development expertise can succeed in Western-dominated survival gaming markets.
God Save Birmingham is currently available for wishlist on Steam, with hands-on demos playable at Gamescom 2025 through August 24.