BNM Company Unveils '2026 PC Cafe Trends for the Second Half'... Analyzing Changes in the PC Cafe Startup Market
TECHWORLD ·
✦ AI Summary
BNM Company announced 7 key keywords for '2026 PC Cafe Trends for the Second Half' based on on-site operating data and consulting experience from a cumulative 1,000-plus stores.
This year, the PC cafe industry is seeing rising hardware component prices due to the growth of the AI industry, high-spec equipment being deployed around certain seats, stronger one- and two-person private rooms, and an increase in foreign tourists and the introduction of diverse experiential content.
In addition, online reputation and food competitiveness, menu diversification, operational efficiency amid small-store closures and customer concentration in large stores, and the growing importance of kiosk and self-payment systems and franchise support systems are becoming increasingly important.
BNM Company, a consulting firm specializing in PC cafe startups, announced 7 key keywords for '2026 PC Cafe Trends for the Second Half.' The announcement was based on on-site operating data and consulting experience from a cumulative 1,000-plus stores, and analyzes major trends in the PC cafe market, including rising hardware prices, changing customer behavior, and improved store operating efficiency.
According to BNM Company, the PC cafe industry this year is seeing rising prices for hardware components driven by the growth of the AI industry, and this is affecting operating methods as well. As a result, instead of replacing all PCs, stores are increasingly deploying high-spec equipment centered on certain seats, and examples of store differentiation included using QNIX high-refresh-rate monitors and Logitech gaming mice.
Changes in space design are also shifting away from the existing team-room-centered format and toward stronger one- and two-person private rooms. This reflects demand for independent gaming environments, and as the age groups using games such as 'Lineage Classic' and 'Roblox' diversify, the importance of facilities and service configurations tailored to customer characteristics is also growing.
As visits by foreign tourists increase, the role of PC cafes is expanding. The introduction of various experiential content is also cited as a factor behind this expansion. T1 Basecamp and GGX are running game-related events, and they are also operating TCG (trading card game) events, a racing zone, idol photocard content, and claw machines.
Key factors in store operations are online reputation and food competitiveness. The importance of review management is also growing, and response across domestic platforms and Google Maps is becoming increasingly important. Menu diversification is also continuing, with pizza and custom ramen cited as examples. The XOHOTDOG&COFFEE pizza was launched on August 21, and after its debut it was introduced at 73 stores nationwide.
In the PC cafe startup market, the closure of small stores and the concentration of customers in large stores are becoming visible. Against that backdrop, improving operational efficiency is being presented as a major task. The importance of streamlining labor through the use of kiosks and self-payment systems is also increasing. At the same time, the importance of franchise support systems is also growing.
BNM Company CEO Seo Hee-won said that while this year the PC cafe industry is struggling with rising component prices and a decline in the number of stores, opportunities are emerging in the expansion of foreign customers and changes in the operating environment. He added that BNM Company, having accumulated experience through more than 1,000 store opening and operation consulting projects, will support owners in responding proactively to market changes and present practical solutions.
Source: TECHWORLD · Kim Gyeong-ju
Original: https://www.epnc.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=408563
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Source: TECHWORLD
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