In a note to fans released on Netflix and Squid Game’s social media accounts, the show’s creator, director, writer and executive producer Hwang Dong-hyuk announced: “The real game begins”.

“We’ll do our best to make sure we bring you yet another thrill ride,” he wrote. “I hope you’re excited for what’s to come. Thank you, always and see you soon, everyone.”

Attention all players: we’re here to deliver an important message. pic.twitter.com/xspvk8HheP

You may not expect a piece in Television to begin with East Asian geopolitics, but trust me. Diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea, two pro-American democracies in the region, were strained for a long time due to past wars and economic exploitation. Those tensions were reflected in Pachinko (Apple TV+, 2022), a saga about four generations of unhappy Korean emigrants to Japan.

Squid Game: The Challenge

Wednesday

Netflix

If the original 2021 dystopian drama wasn’t enough for you, good news: now it’s real. Well, sort of.

How to launch new content depends on the platform you want to launch it on was the main message from some of the leading practitioners at the cutting edge of content creation and marketing.

During an entertaining and engaging session chaired by Roughcut Television Chief Executive, Ash Atalla, it emerged that word of mouth is a key attribute, especially when it comes to relatable and shareable material.

They also revealed first look imagery for the highly anticipated live action Avatar: The Last Airbender, and trailers for reality dating show Love is Blind and Money Heist spin-off Berlin.

Read on for our overview.

Squid Game 2

Welsh language channel S4C turned 40 in November but, as a new film commissioned to celebrate its birthday reminds us, it almost didn’t draw its first breath.

Y Sŵn (The Noise) tells the story of how the Conservative Government reneged on its 1979 manifesto pledge to introduce a Welsh-only channel and then – no spoiler alert needed – caved in.

456 real players will enter the game in pursuit of the life-changing $4.56 million reward. Inspired by the hit Korean drama series Squid Game, which holds the record as Netflix’s most popular series of all time, the players will compete through a series of games derived from the original show, plus some surprising new additions.

Their strategies, alliances and character will be put to the test as competitors are eliminated around them. The stakes are high, but the worst fate for competitors in this game is going home empty-handed.