NCSOFT, Nexon, and Krafton are achieving significant success in the North American gaming market. Nexon and Krafton's new titles, including 'Arc Raiders' and 'Subnautica 2,' are performing well globally, contributing to their financial results. Meanwhile, NCSOFT's recently launched 'Aion 2' has also made a strong debut, surpassing 400,000 concurrent users on its first day.
According to the gaming industry, NCSOFT officially released 'Aion 2' in the global market on October 5 (local time). The game operates servers in North America, South America, Europe, and Japan, supporting eight languages, including English, Japanese, French, German, and Spanish, to target a global audience.
Initial user metrics for 'Aion 2' are promising. The game recorded approximately 398,000 concurrent users on Steam alone, with NCSOFT reporting that the total exceeded 400,000 concurrent users at the start of official service. This follows a successful early access period that maintained the top seller position on Steam since September 30.
'Aion 2' was initially launched in South Korea and Taiwan in November last year, contributing to NCSOFT's improved financial performance. Within 46 days of its release, it surpassed 100 billion won in cumulative sales, generating 136.8 billion won in revenue in the first quarter of this year. This, combined with the success of 'Lineage Classic,' led to NCSOFT's first-quarter PC game revenue reaching a record 318.4 billion won.
With the addition of global sales from 'Aion 2' in the fourth quarter, expectations for NCSOFT's financial improvement are rising. Meritz Securities projected on October 7 that 'Aion 2' would generate an average daily revenue of 1.6 billion won in Q4, with pre-sales from the early access period also expected to contribute to the fourth-quarter results.
Nexon is also confirming the success of its new titles in the North American and European markets. 'Arc Raiders,' a shooting game developed by Embark Studios and released in October last year, has surpassed 16.3 million units in cumulative sales by the second quarter of this year. In the second quarter alone, it generated 18.3 billion yen in revenue, accounting for about 15% of Nexon's total revenue.
On October 8, Nexon will launch its largest-ever update, 'Frozen Mountain Path,' introducing new areas, new arc operations and battles, skill tree improvements for character growth, and various customization features. The company plans to hold free play events and a 50% discount promotion.
Krafton has also seen success with 'Subnautica 2,' developed by Unknown Worlds. Released in early access in May, the game surpassed 5 million units sold within 22 days. Krafton plans to add new underwater regions, new vehicles, new resources, and crafting methods, as well as a new story chapter in the second half of the year.
Pearl Abyss will release the first official downloadable content (DLC) for 'Crimson Desert,' titled 'Journey into the Unknown,' at the end of this month (October 30). This extensive content will focus on exploring oceans and underwater environments beyond the land of the Pywell continent, allowing players to navigate their own ships and explore unknown islands while constructing large castles. Additional scenarios and narratives involving key characters will also be included.
'Crimson Desert' surpassed 6 million units in global cumulative sales just 83 days after its release. In the second quarter, North America and Europe accounted for 75% of Pearl Abyss's revenue.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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