This week, we’re looking back on what summer means to us.
Summer is a little different for everyone which is what keeps it feeling no fresh and exciting year despite the hard-to-sleep nights and occasional sunburn.
Let’s catch up with the team…
For me, summer gaming has always meant horror. In South Korea, there is a beloved cultural tradition of consuming horror media during the hottest months of the year, from scary movies and ghost stories to TV horror specials, haunted houses, and summer-themed fright events. It may seem strange from a Western perspective, where horror is usually tied to Halloween and the colder months, but in Korea, fear is often used as a way to “scare the heat away.”
Physiologically, it almost makes sense: when you are frightened, your body releases adrenaline, your heart rate rises, your blood vessels constrict, and you may even get goosebumps or shiver. That reaction mirrors the feeling of being cold, almost tricking your brain into experiencing a chill.
Growing up, Korean media always treated summer as the season for scary content, and that carried over into my life as a gamer. When I was younger, my friends and I would gather at someone’s house, turn off all the lights, and play horror games like The House flash game or SCP-087-B, both of which I still remember vividly. I do not know if those games actually helped us escape the sweltering heat, but they definitely gave us unforgettable summer nights.
— Justin J, Asst. Project Manager
When we think of summer, our minds instantly drift to the classic Hollywood blockbuster. Over the years, the season has increasingly become a battleground for video game adaptations looking to make a splash on the big screen.
One of the most highly anticipated releases in this category was 2016’s Warcraft. Having dedicated my high school and college years to the iconic MMORPG, the prospect of a full-length cinematic adaptation was thrilling. While the film ultimately received mixed reviews and struggled to capture mainstream box office dominance domestically, it remains a nostalgic treat for long-time fans like myself. Seeing a world I spent years exploring brought to life on the silver screen was well worth the admission.
Looking ahead, the next major summer milestone for gaming fans is the upcoming Call of Duty film. Though the project’s expected release window is slated for June 2028, the sheer scale of the franchise ensures that anticipation will remain high. Adapting a first-person juggernaut is no small feat, but it is undoubtedly a summer blockbuster to watch out for.
— Kevin D, Client Success
Summer movies feel inseparable from the season because they share the same energy as the long summer I spent glued to the original Final Fantasy VII on PlayStation, a game that turned my living room into an epic quest and made everyday vacation time feel bigger, stranger, and more magical. That same feeling is what made the original Masters of the Universe stick with me, even with its more sci-fi style, because it took those lazy months and opened them into cosmic stakes and wild adventure. Around all of that is the softer nostalgia of going to camp, sitting by the pool, eating ice cream on a bright day, and knowing there’s a new movie or game waiting to take you somewhere else the moment you step inside or pick up the controller. Together, those stories didn’t just fill time. They became part of what summer feels like, a tradition of escape and imagination woven alongside the kind of summer sun that melts your ice cream, your soul, and sometimes your skin.
— Mace T, Project Manager
