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Hybe IM is a South Korea-based developer and publisher of interactive media art, technology, and online games, leveraging its parent company HYBE's artist intellectual properties. The organization focuses on game publishing, including titles such as Astra: Knights of Veda, Dungeon Stalkers, Architect: Land of Exile, and Arkheron, aiming to create immersive fan experiences. Hybe IM has raised over $100 million in total funding, including an $80 million round in 2024 and a recent $21 million investment, from firms such as Makers Fund, IMM Investment, Shinhan Venture Investment, and Daesung Private Equity. Led by CEO Wooyong Jung, the company operates as a subsidiary of HYBE, the entertainment corporation known for managing K-pop group BTS. Hybe IM was established in 2022. Its business model centers on game development and publishing, funded by venture investments used for marketing, operations, localization, and live service operations.
Hybe IM has raised $80.0M across 1 funding round.
Hybe IM has raised $80.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Hybe IM has raised $80.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Hybe IM's investors include Andreessen Horowitz, Giza Polish Ventures, Klossy, Makers Fund, Menlo Ventures, Volition Capital, Amjad Masad, Kelvin Beachum Jr., Manish Chandra, Tony Xu.
Hybe IM is a technology-focused subsidiary of the South Korean entertainment giant Hybe Corporation, specializing in gaming products that integrate advanced technology with entertainment content, particularly leveraging K-pop and IP from Hybe's artist ecosystem.[2][4] Established on March 21, 2022, and headquartered in Seoul, it operates in the gaming industry by developing and publishing titles that blend tech innovation with Hybe's music and fandom assets; however, it was renamed to Drimage on July 1, 2025.[1][4] The company serves gamers and fans seeking immersive experiences powered by Hybe's IPs like BTS, targeting global audiences through mobile and interactive gaming. It solves the challenge of merging entertainment IP with gaming tech to create engaging, monetizable content, evidenced by its $21 million funding round in 2023 to fuel publishing expansion.[3] Growth momentum includes this investment to scale operations, building on Hybe's broader platform like Weverse for fan engagement.[1][3]
Hybe IM emerged as a strategic arm of Hybe Corporation, founded in 2005 by Bang Si-hyuk as Big Hit Entertainment and rebranded to Hybe in 2021 to encompass its expanding entertainment empire.[1] Launched specifically on March 21, 2022, Hybe IM was created to harness Hybe's dominance in K-pop—home to acts like BTS—and extend it into gaming through tech integration.[2][4] The idea stemmed from Hybe's evolution beyond music into platforms and solutions, including mergers like Hybe 360 and Hybe IP in 2021, amid rising demand for IP-driven content such as Korean-language education tools using BTS assets.[1] Early traction came via a $21 million funding round announced around 2023, aimed at bolstering its publishing business by wielding K-pop's global fandom power, marking a pivotal shift from Hybe's core labels (e.g., Big Hit Music, Pledis) into interactive gaming.[3] Note that by July 1, 2025, it rebranded to Drimage, signaling further maturation.[1]
Hybe IM rides the wave of IP convergence in gaming, where entertainment giants fuse music/film IPs with interactive tech to tap metaverse-like experiences and Web3 fandom economies—exemplified by Hybe's Weverse investments in U.S. startups like Fave.[1] Timing aligns with K-pop's global explosion post-BTS, fueling demand for immersive content amid market forces like mobile gaming dominance (projected multi-billion scale) and Asia's tech-entertainment boom.[3] It influences the ecosystem by pioneering K-entertainment in gaming publishing, potentially pressuring Western studios to adopt IP-hybrid models, while Hybe's SM acquisition amplifies content pipelines.[1] This positions it favorably against competitors in a fragmented market craving authentic, culturally resonant games.[2]
Post-rebrand to Drimage in July 2025, expect accelerated launches of AI-enhanced gaming titles merging Hybe's IP library with emerging tech like AR/VR for fan concerts and metaverse events.[1] Trends like AI-driven personalization and blockchain fandom tools will shape its path, amplifying growth from its 2023 funding base amid Hybe's global push (e.g., HYBE AMERICA).[3][5] Influence may evolve into a full-stack gaming-entertainment leader, exporting K-wave interactivity worldwide—cementing Hybe IM's edge in tech-infused fandom innovation from its gaming origins.
Hybe IM has raised $80.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $80.0M Series A in August 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 1, 2024 | $80M Series A | — | Andreessen Horowitz, Giza Polish Ventures, Klossy, Makers Fund, Menlo Ventures, Volition Capital, Amjad Masad, Kelvin Beachum JR., Manish Chandra, Tony XU | Announced |
