Major South Korean game companies posted sharply diverging first-quarter results despite the sector’s traditional seasonal slowdown. Larger firms with globally successful intellectual property reported record quarterly sales and profit, while companies facing gaps in new releases or weak early demand remained in the red or saw profitability deteriorate. Nexon, Krafton, NCSoft and Pearl Abyss posted strong gains. Kakao Games and Devsisters reported operating losses, and Webzen saw declines.

KakaoGames plans to pursue a turnaround with a two-track strategy of rolling out 7 new games from this year through next year while continuing to operate its existing live-service titles. Its new lineup aims to move beyond a mobile-focused structure by expanding to PC and console platforms and increasing its focus on global markets. The company also plans to sustain launch momentum on the back of stable revenue from live games and regular updates.