South korea: South Korea's leading online gaming firm Nexon Co. reported a significant rise in its first-quarter net profit, achieving a record high due to strong overseas sales of its newly launched game titles. The company's net profit for the January-March period reached 533.8 billion won (US$356.1 million), marking a 40 percent increase from the previous year.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Nexon, which is listed in Japan, also saw its operating profit surge by 118 percent year-on-year to 542.6 billion won. The company's sales increased by 34 percent on-year, totaling 1.42 trillion won. Nexon attributed its record quarterly earnings to robust growth in major overseas markets such as North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia, predominantly driven by its MapleStory franchise and ARC Raiders.
The MapleStory franchise saw a 42 percent sales increase from the previous year, bolstered by the global launches of Maple Idle and MapleStory Worlds in the prior year. In the first quarter, sales in North America and Europe nearly quadrupled, while revenue in other regions, including Southeast Asia, more than doubled, as per the company's statement.
Nexon's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lee Jeong-heon stated, "We will secure mid- to long-term growth momentum by strengthening strategic partnerships and building a solid lineup of new titles, while enhancing profitability and global competitiveness through the innovation initiatives introduced during our capital market briefing."