Nexon Achieves Record First-Half Results Driven by MapleStory and Ark Raiders

Record-High Sales and Operating Profit Driven by Key IPs
Momentum Strengthened Through Expansion of Steady-Selling IPs and New Titles

Nexon achieved its highest-ever half-year performance in the first half of this year, driven by continued growth of its representative intellectual properties (IPs), MapleStory and Ark Raiders.

Key visual of Arc Raiders. Provided by Nexon.

On August 13, Nexon announced that, on a consolidated basis and at an average exchange rate of 936.8 KRW per 100 yen, it recorded sales of 273.3 billion yen (approximately 2.5603 trillion won) and operating profit of 89.4 billion yen (approximately 837.9 billion won) in the first half, representing year-on-year increases of 17% and 13%, respectively.

Looking solely at the second quarter (at an exchange rate of 940.7 KRW per 100 yen), operating profit decreased by 17%, but sales rose by 121.1 billion yen (about 1.139 trillion won), a 2% increase over the same period, while net profit also jumped 77% to 29.6 billion yen (roughly 278.8 billion won).

Nexon stated that second-quarter sales from the MapleStory franchise increased 63% year-on-year, marking the highest quarterly figure to date. It expects year-on-year growth of 40% for the franchise in the third quarter as well.

In particular, the sandbox creative platform MapleStory Worlds delivered above-expected performance in Korea and Taiwan, posting 123% year-on-year sales growth. Meanwhile, during the same period, the domestic and Western PC versions of MapleStory grew by 7% each, fueled by successful summer updates, even in the face of the base effect.

Ark Raiders, launched in October last year, also contributed to the second-quarter results. Within just nine months of release, Ark Raiders surpassed global cumulative sales of 16.3 million units, establishing itself as a next-generation blockbuster IP in the global PC and console games market.

Thanks to the strong performance of these two IPs, Nexon reported record half-year overseas sales and PC/console platform revenue, growing 44% and 27% year-on-year, respectively, and achieving the highest half-year results in its history.

'Dave the Diver' key visual. Provided by Nexon

Nexon plans to strengthen its performance momentum in the second half of the year by expanding major steady-selling IPs, publishing a diverse range of genres, and launching self-developed new titles. Beginning with the mobile idle RPG Dungeon & Fighter: Expansion (tentative title) within this year, Nexon will introduce the PC 2D action RPG Dungeon & Fighter Classic as well.

Currently, PC/console-based 3D action RPG Project Overkill and the multiplatform open-world action RPG Dungeon & Fighter: Arad are in development. Vindictus: Defying Fate, based on the Mabinogi universe, is scheduled for a global launch next year for PC and consoles. In addition, the mobile version of Dave the Diver, which was first released in China earlier this year, will expand its service to Korea and other global markets next month.

Lee Jeongheon, CEO of Nexon's Japan subsidiary, commented, "We achieved solid results again in the second quarter, thanks to the robust growth of the MapleStory franchise and continued contributions from Ark Raiders. From the second half onward, we will diversify our pipeline and strengthen our growth engines through large-scale updates to key titles."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.