Thanks to the simultaneous growth of steady-selling PC games and new mobile releases
Q3 expected to see popularity surge for 'Baram-ui Nara: Yeon' and 'Dungeon & Fighter Mobile'
[Asia Economy Reporter Jin-gyu Lee] Nexon achieved its highest-ever half-year performance driven by the simultaneous growth of its steady-selling PC games and new mobile titles. In the third quarter, the company plans to continue both quantitative and qualitative growth, led by the domestic success of Baram-ui Nara: Yeon and the upcoming launch of Dungeon & Fighter (DNF) Mobile in China.
◆ Highest Half-Year Performance Achieved = On the 6th, Nexon announced that its Q2 revenue increased by 20% year-on-year to 730.1 billion KRW, and operating profit surged 106% year-on-year to 302.5 billion KRW. This marks the highest Q2 performance in the company's history. Notably, Nexon's revenue for the first half of this year reached a record high of 1.6674 trillion KRW (147.2 billion JPY), with operating profit for the half-year hitting 773 billion KRW (68.3 billion JPY).
Both PC game revenue and mobile game revenue grew by 18% and 24% respectively compared to the same period last year, showing growth across both major platforms. Nexon attributed its record-breaking Q2 revenue to the simultaneous success of major steady-selling PC games such as MapleStory, DNF, and Sudden Attack, alongside mobile games like V4 and KartRider Rush+.
Celebrating its 17th anniversary this year, MapleStory introduced the 'Hotel Maple' content in April, offering VIP services and various benefits, which received strong positive responses from users. Thanks to user-friendly management, the game grew 151% year-on-year in the Korean region, while achieving high growth rates of 173% in North America and Europe, and 217% in Asia and South America. DNF and Sudden Attack also contributed to Q2 revenue growth with year-on-year increases of 49% and 103% respectively in Korea.
The continuous success of new mobile games also stood out. KartRider Rush+, which began global service in May, surpassed 15 million cumulative global users within two months of its launch. As a casual racing genre game, it gained widespread popularity and secured a top position in mobile game revenue rankings shortly after release.
Launched in June, FIFA Mobile immediately topped the popularity charts on both the Apple App Store and Google Play, becoming the most downloaded mobile game by domestic users in Q2. It also ranked first in the sports game category on Google Play and entered the top 10 in overall revenue rankings, maintaining stable service.
With the successive hits of mobile new releases including V4 launched last November, KartRider Rush+, and FIFA Mobile, Nexon's Q2 mobile game revenue rose 24% year-on-year, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of growth.
◆ 'DNF Mobile' the Most Anticipated Title in Q3 = Baram-ui Nara: Yeon, released last month, ranked first on the popularity charts of both Google Play and Apple App Store on its launch day, and topped the Apple App Store revenue charts. On Google Play, it ranked second in revenue on the 22nd of last month, demonstrating the strength of Nexon's flagship IP.
Additionally, DNF Mobile, which recorded approximately 60 million pre-registrations in China, is set to launch there on the 12th. Developed based on the DNF IP, DNF Mobile is the most anticipated title of the second half of the year, combining the original's fast-paced action and exhilarating impact with mobile-optimized content.
Moreover, Nexon is aiming to take a step forward in the global gaming market with titles like KartRider: Drift, a multi-platform game supporting cross-play between console and PC, utilizing the Kart IP. With the continuous success of new mobile titles and the anticipation surrounding the launch of DNF Mobile, Nexon expects Q3 revenue to grow up to 63% year-on-year and operating profit to increase up to 53%.
Owen Mahony, CEO of Nexon Japan, said, "As a result of focused investment and resource allocation on key IPs based on selection and concentration, we were able to achieve strong performance in the first half. With a healthier financial structure built on this record achievement, we will continue both quantitative and qualitative growth in the second half."
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