Smilegate is a South Korean video game publisher and developer founded in 2002. The company is best known for developing and publishing Crossfire (2007), one of the most played first-person shooter games in the world by player count, particularly in China and South Korea.
In March 2017, Smilegate acquired the World Cyber Games trademark from Samsung. The company announced plans to develop WCG “into the world’s top digital entertainment festival in the future.” Under Smilegate’s ownership, WCG returned with events in Xi’an (2019), an online edition (2020), Busan (2023), and Jakarta (2024).
Smilegate is also involved in the Korean esports ecosystem through Crossfire esports and other publishing ventures.