Spotlight on the Korean Gaming Industry – Part 1
*Source: Daily Consumer Economic News (http://www.dailycnc.com)
The Korean gaming industry is gearing up for an exciting 2025, with its leading companies preparing ambitious plans to captivate global audiences. This article explores the upcoming strategies and anticipated releases of major players and is divided into two parts. Part 1 highlights the remarkable achievements and game lineups of KRAFTON, Nexon, and Netmarble.
KRAFTON: Innovations Backed by Record-Breaking Performance
2024 – A Year of Historic Achievements
KRAFTON concluded 2024 with a historic performance. At the recent corporate briefing, the company revealed its Q3 2024 revenue of KRW 719.3 billion and operating profit of KRW 324.4 billion, marking year-on-year growth of 59.7% and 71.4%, respectively—its highest quarterly earnings ever. Cumulative sales for the first three quarters reached KRW 2.092 trillion, with operating profit totaling KRW 967 billion, surpassing the KRW 2 trillion revenue milestone for the first time in the company’s history.
Despite the challenges in Korea’s declining gaming market, especially in the mobile sector, KRAFTON stood out by diversifying its strategies and targeting global markets. Initiatives like making PUBG: Battlegrounds free-to-play on PC and aggressively expanding in India have paid off handsomely. The company’s focus on collaborative promotions and the development of new intellectual properties (IPs) has further solidified its position as an industry leader.
A Promising Future in 2025
KRAFTON’s ambitious roadmap for 2025 includes major releases:
- inZOI (March 28): Dubbed the “Korean Sims,” this life simulation game offers players the chance to create unique lives for their avatars in dynamic environments.
- Dark and Darker Mobile: A high-paced extraction RPG targeting the first half of 2025.
- Subnautica 2: A sequel to the globally successful underwater survival adventure, set to debut in Early Access.
- My Little Puppy: A heartfelt single-player adventure inspired by the bond between humans and pets, coming worldwide via Steam in 2025.
Additionally, other projects like Project ARC and Dinkum Together promise to expand KRAFTON’s creative portfolio. As the company scales up investments globally, including partnerships with international studios and ventures into short-form content platforms, 2025 is poised to be a transformative year for KRAFTON.
NEXON: Growth Fueled by Global Success
Strong 2024 Performance and Global Expansion
NEXON’s consistent growth trajectory places it among Korea’s top-performing game developers. The company recorded a total revenue of KRW 3.932 trillion in 2023 and looks set to break the KRW 4 trillion mark in 2024. Q3 earnings highlighted a revenue of KRW 1.229 trillion, operating profit of KRW 467.2 billion, and net profit of KRW 245 billion, buoyed by its mainstay titles like MapleStory and Dungeon & Fighter.
Notably, The First Descendant emerged as a standout title, achieving 75% of its revenue from North America and Europe. Meanwhile, Dungeon & Fighter Mobile dominated the Chinese market, contributing to a remarkable 138% year-on-year revenue increase in the region.
Exciting 2025 Lineup
Leading NEXON’s 2025 slate is First Berserker: Kazan, a hardcore action RPG based on the beloved Dungeon & Fighter universe, anticipated in early 2025. Additional projects include:
- Vindictus: A visually stunning AAA title in development.
- Mabinogi Mobile: Bringing a beloved classic to modern platforms.
- Project Overkill: Another Dungeon & Fighter spin-off promising thrilling combat experiences.
With numerous promising titles in development, NEXON is poised to strengthen its global presence and continue its remarkable growth trajectory.
Netmarble: A Year Defined by ‘Solo Leveling’
2024, A Turnaround Year
Netmarble marked 2024 as the year of its flagship game, Solo Leveling: ARISE, which drove explosive growth in Q2. The game generated KRW 970 billion in its first month, contributing significantly to Q2 revenue of KRW 782.1 billion, a 29.6% year-on-year increase. Overall, Netmarble achieved KRW 2.0148 trillion in revenue through Q3, marking a 9.7% growth compared to the previous year.
Solo Leveling: ARISE accounted for 20% of Q2 sales, supported by a steady performance from other titles like MARVEL Realm of Champions and Jackpot World.
Expanding Horizons with New Titles in 2025
Netmarble plans to release nine new games in 2025, starting with:
- King of Fighters AFK: Launching January 27, this nostalgic AFK RPG reimagines iconic “King of Fighters” characters.
- RF Online Next: A sequel to the beloved sci-fi MMORPG.
- Game of Thrones: Kings Road: Offering epic action on PC, mobile, and consoles.
(This article will continue in Part 2.)
