Gaming statistics service The Log has published its official weekly report on Korean PC cafes for the fourth week of September 2026, recording a massive and unprecedented spike in gaming activity nationwide. Driven by the celebration of the traditional Korean holiday Chuseok and a multitude of major in-game events, the total playtime surged to 18.44 million hours.
Growth Drivers and FC Online Triumph
The primary catalyst for this massive growth was the sports game FC Online, which was rightfully recognized by the service as the "Game of the Week." Thanks to the massive Chuseok Burning event and special promotions giving away Nexon Cash raffle tickets, its metrics skyrocketed by 95.4%, with its daily market share reaching an impressive 17.5% during peak holiday days.
Successes of Other Industry Leaders
Alongside the football simulator, other key market projects demonstrated excellent positive momentum. The popular tactical shooter Valorant gained 36.6% in popularity, boosted by holiday events and the release of patch 13.06, which introduced the new experimental mode "Gauntlet: System Error."
Impact of Seasonal Activities and Events
At the same time, the shooter Sudden Attack climbed to the sixth spot in the national rankings thanks to the return of the popular "UP Together" content. Meanwhile, projects like MapleStory Worlds and Korean industry veteran The Great Merchant showed a powerful influx of audience due to the launch of unique seasonal activities.
Contradictory Data
It is worth noting that despite official figures from The Log indicating a 29.4% weekly increase in total playtime and a 30.5% year-on-year rise with an average club occupancy rate of 18.7%, some independent analysts point to a possible local traffic redistribution within major chain clubs in Seoul and Busan, which could have partially influenced final statistical peaks during national celebration days.
