Krafton Market Cap 11.5833 Trillion KRW... 6 Trillion KRW Gap with 2nd Place Netmarble
NC Ranked 3rd, Aiming to Regain Reputation through Global Expansion
Krafton, which has risen to become the leading company in the gaming industry, is solidifying its dominance by widening the market capitalization gap with the second place. The existing 3N (Nexon, NCSoft, Netmarble) 2K (Kakao Games, Krafton) system is consolidating into 1K (Krafton).
According to the Korea Exchange on the 15th, Krafton's stock price closed at 239,500 KRW, up 4.13% from the previous day. This marks the fourth consecutive day of gains, with an intraday high of 243,000 KRW, setting a new 52-week high.
In terms of market capitalization, a key indicator of the 'leading company' in the gaming industry, Krafton recorded 11.5833 trillion KRW. Considering that Netmarble, ranked second, has a market cap of 5.3721 trillion KRW, Krafton leads by about 6 trillion KRW.
In the first half of last year, NCSoft held the top market cap position. At the end of February last year, NCSoft's market cap was 10 trillion KRW, ahead of Krafton's 8.9 trillion KRW. However, by the end of August, NCSoft's market cap had sharply dropped to 5.5 trillion KRW, falling below Krafton's 7.6 trillion KRW. By the end of last year, Krafton's market cap surged to 9.9 trillion KRW, widening the gap.
Krafton's dominance in market capitalization was largely influenced by its performance last year. Krafton's revenue last year increased by 3.1% year-on-year to 1.9106 trillion KRW, and operating profit rose by 2.2% to 768 billion KRW. The revenue was the highest ever recorded. In contrast, NCSoft's revenue fell by more than 30%, and operating profit plummeted by over 75%.
Krafton's intellectual property (IP) influence is also strong. Krafton's Battlegrounds IP accounts for about 80% of total revenue, with overseas sales making up an overwhelming 93.6%. According to a report by the Korea Creative Content Agency, the PC and online versions of Battlegrounds and Battlegrounds Mobile have ranked first among overseas users in countries such as China, India, Canada, Australia, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Particularly notable is its outstanding performance in the emerging Indian market, where 'Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI)' continues to break records for highest revenue and user numbers daily.
The industry is paying close attention to Krafton's defense of its position and NCSoft's comeback. NCSoft, which has fallen to third place, is determined to make a strong comeback. NCSoft is developing games across various genres, including the brawl-type action game 'Battlecrush,' the MMORTS 'Project G,' and the puzzle game 'Puzz Up Amitoy.'
NCSoft continues its transformation with 'Battlecrush' and 'Project BSS.' 'Battlecrush,' which is being developed with a goal of global release in the first half of this year, supports cross-play across multiple platforms including Nintendo Switch, Steam, and mobile. 'Battlecrush' is receiving industry attention as NCSoft's first game to be released on the Nintendo Switch.
NCSoft is strengthening global partnerships to establish a foothold for overseas expansion. In particular, it is emphasizing collaboration with Sony Interactive Entertainment. After signing a strategic partnership with SIE in November last year, NCSoft plans to continue cooperation for various global projects, including in the mobile sector.
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