K Pop Group BTS Receives Mobile Game
Backstreet’s back again, Pretty Much and In Real Life are struggling to make it onto the Billboard Charts, and I’m hearing rumblings of a N’Sync reunion tour sans Justin Timberlake. But one boy band is breaking records around the world and their popularity has spawned a mobile game currently available for download.
BTS, Korea’s biggest pop sensation, made a splash in 2018 and 2019. The seven-piece boy band was always popular, but their third album, “Love Yourself: Tear,” shot them into international super-stardom spurred by top ten hits including “DNA,” “Fake Love” and “Idol.” These accomplishments paved the way for BTS to become the best selling singing act in Korean history and the first K Pop group to debut at #1 in America and have several singles inside the Billboard Hot 100.
I can’t speak much for their merchandise sales since I don’t follow them that closely, but I can confirm that BTS is the recipient of their very own mobile game titled BTS: World. Developed by Netmarble Corporation and released on 26 June 2019, BTS: World sees you take the place of a female manager tasked with helping the boys find fame and fortune, years before they became pop icons. No pressure, right?
BTS: World is a visual novel of sorts, where the choices you make in the game and the responses that you select change the outcome of your experience. There is a leveling up capability if you match cards with your BTS crush and completing areas of the game unlock special features including photos, phone calls and exclusive clips made just for BTS: World. The mobile game can also be used as a social media platform for fans.
Despite BTS: World hitting the #1 spot on app stores around the world, it has received mixed reviews from fans and critics. Most notice-ably, the complaints stemmed from the fact that you can only play the game as a female; which alienates many of the male gamers who stan for BTS. The game is also overly flirtatious, with every conversation containing some sort of innuendo or declaration of love. Worst yet, the BTS boys are very rude in the game no matter what choice you make.
Find BTS: World available on Android and iOS.
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