Netmarble achieved its biggest revenue since its founding last year, expanding its top line. This year, it plans what it called a turning point toward a leap by pairing an eight-title lineup of major new games with high-intensity cost efficiency to secure profitability as well as growth.

Netmarble said on Wednesday that on a consolidated basis it posted annual revenue of 2.84 trillion won and operating profit of 352.5 billion won last year. Revenue rose 6.4 percent from a year earlier and operating profit increased 63.5 percent. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 30.8 percent to 484.0 billion won, with an EBITDA margin of 17.1 percent. Net profit jumped 7,519.7 percent to 245.1 billion won.

Fourth-quarter results also set a record high for quarterly performance. Fourth-quarter revenue came to 797.6 billion won and operating profit was 110.8 billion won. That marked increases of 22.9 percent and 214.8 percent, respectively, from a year earlier. EBITDA rose 102.9 percent to 148.9 billion won, with an EBITDA margin of 18.7 percent. The company said the result reflected seasonal updates at overseas subsidiaries and the expansion of existing titles into global regions. It recorded a fourth-quarter net loss of 35.9 billion won due to impairment of intangible assets, including goodwill impairment tied to the termination of service for "King Arthur: Legend Rise".

◆ Payment commission rate to keep improving on more PC payments, app market policy changes

Netmarble plans to continue improving profitability this year through cost efficiency. It forecast that its payment commission rate would be lower than last year, citing a larger share of PC payments and improvements in app market policies.

Do Ki-wook (도기욱), chief financial officer at Netmarble, said on a 2025 fourth-quarter conference call held on Wednesday, "For 2026, we absolutely expect the proportion of payment commissions itself to fall versus 2025." He said the commission rate was continuing to decline as the share of PC payments increased, and that there was room for further improvement due to a favorable market environment including PC payment expansion at overseas subsidiaries and app market policies.

Marketing expenses will be kept at a similar ratio to last year. Do said, "Marketing expenses were around 20 percent on a consolidated basis in 2025, and the ratio itself will not change significantly in 2026." He added that the company would continue to execute spending efficiently depending on top line and performance.

The company expects labor costs to stay flat in absolute terms, with the ratio falling as revenue rises. Do said, "We do not expect the absolute headcount and the absolute scale of labor costs to change significantly," adding that the ratio could fall as performance improves.

Netmarble emphasised that, "In 2026, with top-line growth driven by the launch of major new titles and strategic cost efficiency, we will be able to grow performance meaningfully following 2025."

◆ Four new titles in the first half, four more major titles in the second half

Netmarble will release a total of eight new titles this year to maintain its growth momentum. In the first quarter, it will roll out "StoneAge Raising" and "The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin". In the second quarter, it will launch "SOL: Enchant" and "Mongil: Star Dive".

In the second half, it plans to sequentially unveil four titles: "Solo Leveling: Karma", "Shangri-La Frontier: Seven Strongest Species", "Project Octopus" and "EvilBane". It said the second-half lineup consists of major new titles being prepared internally with a target of meaningful revenue growth.

Kim Byung-gyu (김병규), chief executive of Netmarble, said, "As of now, we are aiming for the four projects in the second-half lineup to be placed and released at appropriate times." He added, "We will do our best to provide somewhat more meaningful information on the game lineup within the second half through internal disclosure events and the like."

It will also continue expanding existing titles into global regions. Netmarble plans to proceed sequentially with global translation and localisation for existing titles including Vampir.

◆ Shareholder return ratio expanded to 40 percent; all 4.7 percent treasury shares to be cancelled

Netmarble also announced a strong return policy to enhance shareholder value. It will pay a cash dividend of 71.8 billion won, or 876 won per share, equivalent to around 30 percent of last year’s net income attributable to controlling shareholders. The amount is about 110 percent higher than a year earlier. The dividend record date was set at Feb. 27, 2026, and the company expects a tax special case to apply to dividend income from stock dividends of no-dividend companies.

It also established a new three-year shareholder return policy for 2026 to 2028. It will expand shareholder return resources from about 30 percent of consolidated net income attributable to controlling shareholders to 40 percent, and will implement cash dividends and share buybacks and cancellations on that basis.

This year, it plans to cancel all of its treasury shares equal to 4.7 percent. Do said, "We will do our best to repay shareholders’ expectations by establishing a virtuous cycle in which solid performance growth leads to tangible enhancement of shareholder value."

◆ Financial structure improvement to continue after HYBE stake sale

Netmarble will continue pushing to improve its financial structure. The sale of its stake in HYBE that it disclosed on Wednesday will also be executed with top priority on improving its financial structure.

Do said, "The purpose of the price return swap (PRS) transaction that securitised HYBE is, of course, to be executed with top priority on improving our financial structure." He added that, as the company has repeatedly laid out its direction and plans for financial structure improvement over the past several years, the latest deal was carried out as an extension of that approach.

On the sale of G-Tower, the company said the selection of a preferred bidder has been completed, and it will communicate to the market on whether to proceed further at the time it is finalised.

Do said, "In 2025, we once again proved solid fundamentals by posting the biggest quarterly revenue since listing through live service capabilities and regional expansion performance for existing titles in the fourth quarter." He added, "This year, as a turning point for a leap in which the multi-platform, multi-genre new titles we have long prepared bear fruit, we will continue meaningful performance growth through broader global reach and efficient cost execution."