Nexon scores record half-year earnings on MapleStory, ARC Raiders growth across globe

Nexon, a leading video game publisher and operator, reported record-breaking first-half earnings driven by the sustained success of its MapleStory franchise and the growing popularity of its title ARC Raiders. The company’s financial results, released on Thursday, showed total sales of 2.56 trillion won ($1.8 billion), marking a 17 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Operating profit climbed 13 percent to 838 billion won, while net profit surged over 100 percent to 814 billion won. In the second quarter alone, Nexon achieved sales of 1.14 trillion won, operating profit of 294.3 billion won, and net profit of 278.8 billion won. These figures surpassed the company’s initial earnings guidance, reflecting robust performance across multiple business segments. The success was attributed primarily to the continued strength of the MapleStory franchise and the expanding reach of ARC Raiders in international markets. MapleStory, a long-standing side-scrolling massively multiplayer online role-playing game, remained a cornerstone of Nexon’s revenue streams. The original PC version of the game saw strong engagement in South Korea, North America, and Europe. Additionally, the mobile variant, MapleStory: Idle RPG, maintained steady growth in North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia during the second quarter. While Nexon did not disclose the exact revenue generated by the entire MapleStory franchise, it noted that the series set a new quarterly revenue record. Meanwhile, ARC Raiders, a multiplayer third-person extraction shooter, contributed significantly to Nexon’s growth in Western markets. The game surpassed 16.3 million cumulative sales within nine months of its launch, positioning itself as one of the company’s most promising global titles. This achievement underscores the increasing appeal of Nexon’s action-oriented games among international audiences. Nexon’s overseas revenue also hit a new high, with notable gains in both Western and Southeast Asian markets. Revenue from Western markets more than tripled in the first half, while income from Southeast Asia and other regions grew by 76 percent. This geographic diversification highlights Nexon’s strategic focus on expanding its market presence beyond its traditional stronghold in South Korea. Speaking on the company’s recent performance, Nexon CEO Lee Jung-hun emphasized the importance of the MapleStory franchise and the ongoing contributions from ARC Raiders. “Nexon recorded solid results in the second quarter, led by strong growth from the MapleStory franchise and continued contribution from ARC Raiders,” he stated. Looking ahead, the CEO outlined plans to further diversify the company’s portfolio by introducing new titles across different genres and enhancing existing franchises through major updates. Nexon aims to maintain its upward trajectory by leveraging its established intellectual property while exploring opportunities in emerging gaming trends. With a clear focus on innovation and global expansion, the company is positioned to continue delivering strong financial returns in the coming quarters.