South Korean game makers\' second-quarter results are expected to diverge based on profits generated by existing intellectual property rather than whether they released new titles. Krafton and NC, which own PUBG and Lineage, are forecast to post sharp gains helped by new titles and acquisitions. Netmarble is expected to see weaker profitability due to marketing and IP fees, while Nexon expects a pause as some key titles soften despite stable live services.

Netmarble is expanding its lineup of new game releases, but market attention is shifting from initial success to how long revenue can be sustained after launch. Several titles released from March to May did not generate enough results to offset marketing costs, highlighting operational staying power as a key variable for second-half earnings. The company posted first-quarter revenue of 651.7 billion won and operating profit of 53.1 billion won, missing market consensus on profit.