Pearl Abyss has shared its milestones as the BIGJAM initiative, designed to support the global expansion of promising indie games in South Korea, marks its fifth anniversary. From 2022 over the course of four years, a total of 44 indie game developers have made their way onto the global stage, with another 12 companies joining the fifth cohort this year to help expand a sustainable gaming ecosystem.

BIGJAM is a global marketing support programme that Pearl Abyss has been running since 2022 alongside the Game Culture Foundation, the Busan Information Industry Promotion Agency, and the Busan Indie Connect Festival (BIC) Organising Committee. Developers chosen as outstanding BIC exhibitors receive full support throughout the exhibition process, including overseas game show booths, flights and accommodation, local marketing promotions, and business networking with international buyers and investors. This gives participants a proper chance to gauge global player reactions and find new pathways into overseas markets.

Starting with the first cohort in 2022 up to the fourth cohort last year, the initiative has successfully helped a total of 44 indie game companies take part in major global game shows such as Japan's BitSummit and Gamescom Asia. The participant satisfaction survey scored a stellar 4.85 out of 5, which is rather cheeky and impressive. Following their time with BIGJAM, participants reported tangible business results including 30 increases in Steam wishlists, 20 exposures in foreign media and among influencers, 19 follow-up meetings with publishers and platforms, 9 publishing contracts and collaboration talks, alongside 9 investment pitching meetings.

The submitted titles have also racked up quite a few awards. At the Korea Game Awards in the indie game category, the programme has produced winners for three consecutive years: The Devil Within: Satgat (2023), Terminus: Zombie Survivors (2024), and Shape of Dreams (2025). Over on the international stage at Gamescom Asia, Light Odyssey (2023), Nientum -Op. ZERO (2024), and Blackout: Zero Point (2025) similarly made the winner's list for three straight years.

Pearl Abyss has newly chosen 12 companies for the fifth cohort of BIGJAM this year. These selected indie game developers will take part in Japan's BitSummit and Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show to meet global players and buyers, exploring new horizons for international market entry.