Nexon reported growth in both revenue and operating profit for the third quarter of this year, fueled by the success of its 'MapleStory' franchise and 'FC Online.' Both games achieved record quarterly sales, while existing intellectual properties (IPs) like Maple Growing and MapleStory World also contributed to improved performance.
On November 10, Nexon announced that its consolidated operating profit for Q3 reached 371.8 billion won (approximately $418 million), an 11% increase compared to the same period last year. Revenue for the same period was 1.23 trillion won, marking a 17% rise. The company reported a net profit of 339.3 billion won.
Based on the performance of its key IPs, domestic revenue increased by 17% year-on-year, while international revenue rose by 16%.
Notably, revenue from the MapleStory franchise surged by 72% compared to the previous year. This growth was driven by the expansion of the original PC game and the global reach of Maple Growing and MapleStory World.
In South Korea, the PC version of MapleStory saw a 19% increase in revenue year-on-year, thanks to successful summer and fall updates. Internationally, the launch of classic servers in China and Taiwan, along with popular animated collaborations in North America and Europe, nearly doubled revenue compared to the previous year.
The mobile game Maple Growing continued to grow in revenue both domestically and internationally, supported by user feedback-driven updates and stable overseas services. The sandbox platform MapleStory World also saw its revenue double year-on-year, contributing to the franchise's growth.
FC Online also rebounded in Q3, with system improvements and new content enhancing gameplay, leading to record average playtime for users. Overall revenue for the FC franchise returned to double-digit growth.
Nexon anticipates continued growth for the MapleStory franchise and FC Online in Q4.
The company plans to release two new publishing titles at the end of November and will introduce self-developed games starting next year to secure new growth drivers. On November 26, the MMORPG 'Temppal: Overgeared' will launch in South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. On the same day, the fantasy world RPG 'Azure Promilia' will also begin its domestic service.
In the first half of 2027, Nexon plans to launch the mobile idle RPG 'Dungeon & Fighter Growing' in the global market. Additionally, the company aims to introduce new self-developed titles, including the action RPG 'Vindictus: Defying Fate' and the zombie survival game 'Paradise: LAST PARADISE.'
Lee Jung-heon, CEO of Nexon Japan, stated, "In Q3, our core IPs achieved balanced performance through gameplay improvements and content enhancements, diversifying our revenue sources. We will expand our portfolio with new titles starting at the end of this year and enhance the operation of live titles to strengthen our long-term growth foundation."
Nexon is pursuing a dual strategy of launching games based on existing popular IPs while securing new IPs. The MapleStory franchise has expanded its business scope from the original PC game to include mobile idle RPGs and user-generated content platforms. In 2027, Nexon plans to introduce an idle RPG utilizing the Dungeon & Fighter IP while diversifying genres and platforms through new games.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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