Immovable 'Lineage', Established 'Maldal·Dungeon Fighter'
[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] The gaming industry is unveiling much-anticipated new games as it pushes full attendance after the lifting of COVID-19 social distancing measures, focusing on new game development. While NCSoft, which has no new releases this year due to delayed development schedules, and Kakao Games, which is filling the gap in new titles with overseas game licensing, are leading in performance but showing signs of instability, Nexon and Netmarble are aiming for a turnaround in the second half by launching major new titles.
NCSoft Relies on Lineage... When Will the New Titles Arrive?
According to Mobile Index, a big data analysis solution by IGAWorks, Lineage M by NCSoft (hereafter NC) ranked first in mobile game revenue in July. In addition to Lineage M, NC's Lineage siblings, Lineage W and Lineage 2M, also ranked 4th and 9th respectively, driving NC's overall performance.
Despite being six years since its launch, Lineage M still holds the top spot. As of the 21st, its user count ranked within the top 50 among all games, recording a relatively low number, but total playtime was first, indicating a solid fan base. Furthermore, Lineage W, released last year, has consistently maintained a high ranking, suggesting a bright outlook for NC's third-quarter results.
However, the rescheduling of NC's next title 'TL' from the second half of this year to the first half of next year is considered a variable. Recently, the Lineage siblings, which had held the top spot for a short period, have been losing ground to Kakao Games' 'Odin: Valhalla Rising' and 'Uma Musume Pretty Derby,' showing signs of weakening. Operating solely with the Lineage siblings until the first half of next year will likely be a significant burden for NC.
Kakao Games Struggles Despite 'Uma Musume' Success, Desperate for Original Games
Kakao Games' Odin and Uma Musume ranked 2nd and 3rd respectively in the July mobile game revenue rankings. Since its release in June last year, Odin has consistently ranked between 1st and 5th domestically, showing solid performance. Uma Musume also demonstrated potential for long-term success by reaching first place whenever update news was announced since its release last June.
However, Uma Musume's immense popularity may ironically be a double-edged sword for Kakao Games. Users have recently begun voicing accumulated complaints all at once, including ▲differences in free currency distribution between Japanese and Korean servers as of the release date ▲irregular schedules and event announcements ▲shorter pickup event periods compared to Japan. Uma Musume users are so passionate about the game that they refer to themselves as 'Mal Abaji' (literally 'Horse Father'), a play on the literal translation of Uma Musume as 'Mal Ddal' ('Horse Daughter').
Users have been continuing a rating protest since the 21st, and recently even started fundraising for an offline 'carriage protest,' amplifying negative public opinion. Kakao Games attempted to quell the backlash through announcements, but this backfired, and the current rating has dropped to 1.1 out of 5.
While Kakao Games has already secured decent third-quarter results thanks to Uma Musume's performance, failure to appease angry users may hinder long-term success.
Nexon Unveils Massive New Titles, Netmarble Aims for Profit Turnaround in Second Half
In July, Nexon had multiple games such as 'FIFA Online 4' and 'Dungeon & Fighter Mobile' rank among the top. Having recorded its highest-ever performance in the first half, Nexon plans to continue its momentum in the second half by releasing the major new title 'HIT 2' on the 25th. 'HIT 2' breaks the conventions of traditional MMORPGs by promoting a 'new gaming world.' Users can vote to set server rules directly and even create new rules.
Netmarble will kick off in earnest from August. After recording a loss in the first half and failing to place any games within the top 20 mobile games in July, Netmarble plans to rebound with the new title 'Seven Knights Revolution.' Released on the 28th of last month, Seven Knights Revolution ranked 6th and 7th on the two major application markets as of this date. If this performance continues, a profit turnaround in the third quarter is expected.
Netmarble aims to release a total of six new titles within the year, including three blockchain-based new games: 'Modoo Marble: Meta World,' 'Monster Arena Ultimate Battle,' and 'King of Fighters: Arena,' as well as 'Overprime (Early Access),' 'BTS Dream: TinyTAN House,' and 'Charlotte's Table.'
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