Neople, the game developer behind the hugely popular Dungeon & Fighter (DnF), has abruptly canceled its much-anticipated 20th-anniversary event, "DNF Universe 2025," originally slated for August 9-10 at Kintex in Ilsan, South Korea. The cancellation was announced on July 14, 2025, via an official notice on the DnF homepage, leaving fans and industry watchers surprised and disappointed.
While Neople cited "internal circumstances" as the official reason for the cancellation, the prevailing consensus among industry insiders and observers is that a prolonged labor union strike has played a decisive role in disrupting preparations. The strike, initiated by the Neople branch of the Korean Chemical, Fiber & Food Workers' Union (KCFWSU) under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, began on June 25, 2025, and is set to continue until August 8, just one day before the scheduled event.
Neople's announcement expressed sincere apologies for the sudden cancellation, stating, "Although much preparation had been made and time remained until the event, we judged it difficult to present all content initially planned with sufficient completeness due to internal circumstances." The company further explained that, despite the inability to showcase the originally planned content, it would channel more resources into stabilizing the live service of its games, promising a more reliable experience for players.
Originally, "DNF Universe 2025" was conceived as a grand offline celebration to mark two decades of Dungeon & Fighter, one of South Korea's most enduring and beloved gaming franchises. The event was to assemble a diverse lineup of Neople's titles, including PC Dungeon & Fighter, Dungeon & Fighter Mobile, Project Overkill: Kazam, and Cyphers, offering fans a comprehensive look at the expanded DnF universe.
The planned festivities were ambitious: major half-year update announcements for live games, lectures centered on Dungeon & Fighter, a trial zone where attendees could experience upcoming content firsthand, and a showcase of collaboration goods designed to thrill the fanbase. However, the ongoing strike, which has seen approximately 850 employees—about two-thirds of Neople's game development staff—participate, severely hampered event preparations.
The labor dispute centers on grievances over reduced performance bonuses, known as new development performance bonuses (GI), particularly related to the success of Dungeon & Fighter Mobile in China. Despite Neople achieving record sales of 1.3783 trillion won in 2024, the union asserts that bonuses were cut to roughly two-thirds of previous levels. They are demanding profit-sharing bonuses amounting to approximately 39.3 billion won, or 4% of last year's operating profit. The company, however, maintains that some bonuses have already been paid domestically and that incentives for the China launch will be distributed sequentially through June 2026.
The strike, unprecedented in the Korean gaming industry, has involved a series of full and rotating strikes, with union members staging rallies and press conferences to push for better terms. On July 11, 2025, union leader Jo Jung-woo addressed fans at a press conference near Nexon's Pangyo headquarters, emphasizing the employees’ concern that the strike might alienate users more than company pressure. "Many employees are worried about users' dissatisfaction and moving away from the game rather than company pressure. It would be good if you knew that point," he said.
However, the fan community’s reaction to the strike and event cancellation has been mixed and at times skeptical. Comments on gaming forums and social media ranged from frustration—"It feels bad that the 20th-anniversary event was held hostage by the strike"—to doubts about the strike's urgency and sincerity, with some users expressing disbelief and even amusement at union statements.
Despite the cancellation, Neople has reassured fans that new Dungeon & Fighter content will continue to be released on schedule. Director Park Jong-min confirmed via a developer note on July 14 that while the event was canceled, there are no plans to adjust the update timetable. Character and equipment balance patches are targeted for deployment on the test server on July 16, with live server updates planned for July 24. Additionally, development updates on the upcoming "Innana Hwanghonjeon" farming area and new monsters for the Dirige raid have been shared with the community.
In place of the canceled offline event, Neople plans to hold a social contribution activity to commemorate the 20th anniversary, focusing on providing a playful and supportive environment for children during the hot summer months. Details remain under wraps, but Neople has promised to announce further information soon. The "Universe One Day" event, which was scheduled as an offline user-made goods market and on-site event, will be converted into an online format, marking its first return since 2019.
Neople left the door open for a future revival of "DNF Universe," pledging to prepare a more robust and well-rounded event when conditions allow. This gesture suggests the company’s commitment to its fanbase despite the current challenges.
The cancellation of "DNF Universe 2025" highlights the growing pains of a major gaming company navigating labor disputes while trying to maintain service quality and fan engagement. It also underscores the complexities of balancing employee welfare with corporate milestones in an industry where fan expectations run high.
As the strike continues and negotiations remain unresolved, the gaming community watches closely, hopeful for a resolution that satisfies both the hardworking developers behind their favorite games and the loyal players who have supported Dungeon & Fighter for two decades.
