[Digital Today reporter Lee Ho-jung] Nexon is expected to have set its biggest results since its founding last year. The results are seen as significant not just for higher numbers but because 'Arc Raiders' opened the door to the Western console market and 'MapleStory Idle' broadened the base of mobile genres.

OPERATING PROFIT SEEN AT 1.4 TRILLION WON... 'ARC RAIDERS' DELIVERS A GLOBAL JACKPOT

Based on industry and brokerage estimates compiled on Jan. 19, Nexon's 2025 annual revenue is estimated at 4.56 trillion won and operating profit at 1.41 trillion won. That would be up 13.7 percent in revenue and 26.4 percent in operating profit from a year earlier. Nexon is expected to stay in the '4 trillion club' for a second straight year after becoming the first South Korean game company to surpass 4 trillion won in annual revenue in 2024.

The key point is a sharper improvement in profitability than top-line growth. Nexon posted cumulative operating profit of 1.11 trillion won through the third quarter. It is expected to reach the 1.4 trillion won mark for the year on the back of explosive success of new titles in the fourth quarter. The figure meets the top end of the guidance Nexon presented at its third-quarter earnings release last year, and Nexon is expected to regain its standing as the clear No. 1 in the industry in both revenue and profit.

The highlight of this year's results is the global success of 'Arc Raiders'. The game, released on Oct. 30 last year, topped cumulative global sales of 12.4 million copies in a little more than two months. Estimated revenue alone is in the 700 billion won range when considering the package price.

Performance indicators were also overwhelming. It logged a peak of 960,000 concurrent users across all platforms including PC and consoles, and stayed near the top of Steam's global bestsellers for 10 weeks after launch. This is the result of a dual-track strategy Nexon has maintained for seven years since investing in Embark Studios in 2018: guaranteeing independence while combining the parent company's live-service know-how. An assessment says management's insistence on prioritising quality over pressing for short-term results created a foothold for tackling the Western console market, a long-running challenge for Nexon.

'MAPLE IDLE' BREAKS GENRES... SHAREHOLDER RETURNS AS A FINISHING TOUCH

While 'Arc Raiders' developed a new market in horizontal growth, existing flagship intellectual property served as cash cows through genre-breaking vertical growth.

Idle RPG 'MapleStory Idle', released on Nov. 6 last year, is estimated to have topped 140 billion won in cumulative revenue within six weeks. It ranked No. 1 in revenue among new idle RPGs worldwide based on Sensor Tower data and attracted 3 million global users within two months of release. It proved that even the lightweight idle genre can generate substantial profits and succeeded in diversifying its portfolio. 'Mabinogi Mobile' also reinterpreted the original game's sensibility for modern players and won the grand prize at the 2025 Korea Game Awards, taking both commercial success and acclaim.

A strong core supported the surge of new releases. PC online game 'MapleStory', Nexon's roots, logged a 45.07 percent share at internet cafes as of Dec. 21 to rank first overall. It was a record achieved after 22 years of service, beating 'League of Legends'. 'Dungeon & Fighter' also backed results as revenue grew by double digits on the back of China's National Day update performance.

Nexon plans to actively share these results with shareholders. It is buying back its own shares through January 2026 worth up to 100 billion yen, or about 920 billion won, and it doubled the dividend from a year earlier to 30 yen per share.

Nexon's dominance was also underscored by government attention. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok visited Nexon's Pangyo headquarters on Jan. 15 and said, "Let's become one team with the government to leap to the world's third-largest game powerhouse," also hinting at regulatory innovation. An assessment says record results and additional government support have also put a positive signal on achieving the target set by CEO Lee Jung-heon of 7 trillion won in revenue by 2027.

An industry official said, "This year's Nexon results carry meaning beyond simple numbers. That is because it broke through the wall of the Western console market with 'Arc Raiders' and proved the diversification of its profit model with 'MapleStory Idle'," adding, "If this qualitative change in the portfolio continues, it is highly likely that entering the '7 trillion club' in 2027 will also become reality."