Nexon's sales topped 4.5 trillion won last year. Buoyed by steady results from its flagship intellectual property (IP) MapleStory and the success of new title ARC Raiders, the company posted record revenue.
Nexon said on the 12th that last year's revenue rose 6% from a year earlier to 475.1 billion yen (about 4.5072 trillion won). Operating profit was 124 billion yen (about 1.1765 trillion won), flat from the previous year. Net profit fell 32% in the same period to 92.1 billion yen (about 873.3 billion won).
The success of ARC Raiders, which Nexon rolled out in the fourth quarter last year, and the global expansion of the MapleStory IP franchise drove results.
ARC Raiders, which Nexon has tagged as a next-generation, blockbuster-level new IP, surpassed 14 million units in cumulative sales after its launch in late Oct. last year, and in Jan. the peak concurrent users reached 960,000. In particular, it delivered strong results on multiple platforms amid favorable reviews from Western users. Thanks to ARC Raiders' performance, Nexon's fourth-quarter revenue in North America and Europe grew nearly fivefold from a year earlier, marking record highs for both the quarter and the full year.
In fact, Nexon's fourth-quarter revenue last year was 123.6 billion yen (about 1.1606 trillion won), up 55% from a year earlier. Operating profit turned to a surplus at 7.2 billion yen (about 674 billion won).
Nexon said that in the fourth quarter last year, its flagship IPs, led by MapleStory, continued to grow across various markets and platforms. In Korea, MapleStory (PC) saw fourth-quarter revenue rise 14% from a year earlier on the back of a large winter update. The revenue growth rate recorded double digits for four consecutive quarters. Overseas revenue also grew 24% during the same period.
Last year, total revenue from the MapleStory franchise increased 43% from a year earlier. The company said, "This is the result of both the PC version of MapleStory and MapleStory Worlds delivering balanced performance at home and abroad."
The FC franchise also maintained steady growth. FC Online saw fourth-quarter revenue increase from a year earlier thanks to a new class update and a large-scale promotion.
DUNGEON & FIGHTER (PC) continued its recovery, posting double-digit growth in the fourth quarter in the Korean and Chinese markets. In Korea, with continuous updates to mark the 20th anniversary of service, annual revenue rose 108% from a year earlier.
Nexon said Mabinogi Mobile, launched in Korea in Mar. last year, also sustained long-term popularity and contributed to fourth-quarter results.
Nexon plans to accelerate securing next-generation growth engines this year. DAVE THE DIVER Mobile, launched in China on the 6th, drew more than 1.5 million pre-registrations, ranked at the top of popularity charts right after launch, and is maintaining early momentum with a peak user rating of 9.4. Nexon plans to release the game in Korea and global markets based on its performance in China.
In addition, Nexon will unveil a variety of new titles, including the fantasy-world role-playing game (RPG) Azure Promilia, a new large-scale survival MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) titled Project DX, the multiplayer PvPvE zombie survival game Paradise: LAST PARADISE, and the action RPG Vindictus: Defying Fate.
Nexon Japan CEO Lee Jung-heon said, "With last year's successful launch of ARC Raiders, we were able to confirm Nexon's global competitiveness," adding, "We will deliver greater joy to users at home and abroad through the continued growth of our franchises and by discovering more new IPs."