Nexon Releases Q1 2025 Results, Demonstrating Commitment to Growth

Nexon, the publisher behind Maple Story, has unveiled its Q1 2025 fiscal year earnings, showcasing moderate increases in revenue and operating income. The company's three flagship franchises - Dungeon&Fighter, Maple Story, and FC - collectively achieved a 21% year-over-year growth rate, up from 8% in the previous quarter. Key financial highlights for Q1 2025 include revenue of ¥113.9 billion, operating income of ¥41.6 billion, and net income of ¥26.3 billion. The Dungeon&Fighter franchise saw a notable 60% year-over-year growth, driven by the success of Dungeon&Fighter Mobile in China and the global launch of The First Berserker: Khazan. Nexon anticipates a decline in franchise revenue for Q2 due to a challenging comparison with the previous year's launch of Dungeon&Fighter Mobile. FC Online exceeded revenue expectations, although FC Mobile fell short, resulting in a year-over-year decline for the franchise. However, with the 2026 World Cup approaching, Nexon expects player enthusiasm to increase. Maple Story experienced an 8% year-over-year revenue growth, primarily driven by strong performance in Korea and the West, with a significant winter update in December contributing to improved player engagement. The First Descendant's Q1 revenue was below expectations due to lower-than-anticipated sales, but player metrics showed improvement. The Finals performed within predicted ranges, supported by the Season 6 update, and is expected to gain additional momentum from new content scheduled for May. A global tech test for ARC Raiders yielded promising results, exceeding expectations for key metrics such as Steam wishlisting. Nexon forecasts Q2 2025 revenue to be between ¥99.6 billion and ¥110.3 billion, representing a 10-19% year-over-year decline. Operating income and net income are also expected to decrease. Despite this, Nexon anticipates Maple Story to grow approximately 20% year-over-year in the next quarter. According to Junghun Lee, president and CEO of Nexon, the company is delivering on its promises to both players and investors, with a recovery in key titles and the launch of new games. Nexon is making progress in its partnership initiatives and is poised for sustained growth, driven by recurring revenue, a robust pipeline of new games, and strategic partnerships.