Nexon announced on the 13th that its annual revenue for last year reached 4.091 trillion won, with an operating profit of 1.1157 trillion won. This represents a 5% increase in revenue compared to the same period last year, but an 8% decrease in operating profit. It became the first domestic gaming company to surpass annual revenue of 4 trillion won.
Fourth-quarter revenue was 729.4 billion won, reflecting a 6% decrease from the same period last year, while an operating loss of 15.8 billion won marked a transition to deficit.
Nexon noted that it achieved 10% revenue growth in its major franchises including 'Dungeon & Fighter,' 'MapleStory,' and 'FC,' confirming the potential of its 'intellectual property (IP) growth strategy.' Among the IPs, the 'Dungeon & Fighter' IP, benefiting from the launch of 'Dungeon & Fighter Mobile,' recorded a 53% increase in revenue compared to the previous year, showcasing the most notable achievement.
In the 'MapleStory' IP, overseas revenue from the PC version of 'MapleStory' recorded a 24% growth compared to the previous year, setting quarterly revenue records in both the third and fourth quarters in North America and Japan. The 'FC' franchise saw increased revenue in the fourth quarter compared to the same period last year; however, it decreased compared to the record performance in 2023.
Nexon announced its expectations for continuous growth by revealing a variety of new titles based on stable live performance this year. The new hardcore action RPG 'First Berserker: Kazan' is scheduled for global release on March 28. Various new titles utilizing the 'Dungeon & Fighter' IP, including the open-world action RPG 'Dungeon & Fighter: Arad' and the next-generation 3D action RPG 'Project Overkill,' which is being developed using Unreal Engine, are also in progress.
Also, 'Mabinogi Mobile,' developed by DevCAT, is set to be released on March 27, inheriting one of Nexon's representative IPs, 'Mabinogi.' A new action RPG titled 'Vindictus: Defying Fate,' based on the Celtic mythology-inspired fantasy world of 'Mabinogi Heroes,' is also in preparation.
Nexon stated that new IP-based diverse titles, such as the PvPvE survival shooter 'ARC Raiders' and the zombie apocalypse-themed survival escape game 'Last Paradise,' are expected to enhance differentiation.
Lee Jeong-heon, head of Nexon Japan, said, 'Nexon is strengthening strategic research and investments for business expansion of its powerful IPs like Dungeon & Fighter and MapleStory' and added, 'We will strive to provide greater enjoyment to a larger number of users through new games featuring both existing IP franchises and new IP.'
Meanwhile, Nexon announced that it would advance the execution deadline for the remaining 50 billion yen of its previously announced stock buyback policy from 2027 to 2026, and will additionally purchase 50 billion yen worth of its own shares during the same period, totaling 100 billion yen to be bought back within a year. This year, Nexon's stock buyback is scheduled to take place from the 14th to June 30, amounting to a total of 50 billion yen (approximately 457.5 billion won).