After hitting a high note with record-breaking revenue and operating profit in the second quarter of last year, Nexon has faced a relatively cooling period this year. The primary culprit? The momentum behind the mobile version of Dungeon & Fighter has somewhat dwindled.

Nexon unveiled its Q2 2025 financial results on the 13th. The company recorded revenue of 118.8 billion yen (approximately 1.1149 trillion KRW), an operating profit of 37.6 billion yen (approximately 364.6 billion KRW), and a net profit of 16.7 billion yen (approximately 162.1 billion KRW). Compared to the same period last year, revenue dipped by 3%, operating profit by 17%, and net profit by 58%. It seems the 'base effect' from last year's massive performance of Dungeon & Fighter Mobile in China made these figures look a bit more sobering.

Let's look at the bright side: domestic revenue in Korea, which accounts for 60% of the total, surged by 45%. PC and console revenue climbed 47% year-on-year, thanks to steady performances from mainstays like Mabinogi Mobile, Dungeon & Fighter, and FC Online. Mobile gaming revenue also grew by 41% compared to the same period last year, bolstered by Mabinogi Mobile.

Specifically, MapleStory outperformed expectations, with revenue jumping 91% year-on-year, driven by fresh content, massive rewards, and system overhauls. The Western market also saw a 36% growth in revenue, thanks to 20th-anniversary updates and animated collaborations. Consequently, the entire MapleStory franchise saw a 60% boost in revenue compared to the same period last year.

On the flip side, revenue from China plummeted by 52% year-on-year. While the original Dungeon & Fighter saw a 38% bump thanks to May Day events, the mobile version of Dungeon & Fighter saw a 77% drop as the initial launch hype faded. Nexon noted that despite running first-anniversary events, they were less effective than hoped at retaining returning players.

Nexon is now pivoting toward accelerating IP expansion to secure its next growth engine. The PvPvE action title 'ARC Raiders' is set for a global launch on October 30th, followed by a mobile spin-off, 'MapleStory Grow', slated for the latter half of the year. Furthermore, 'The Finals' is accelerating its Chinese debut, having kicked off a closed alpha test in China on August 8th.

Beyond that, the studio has a diverse pipeline in the works, including the action RPG 'Vindictus: Defying Fate', the zombie apocalypse survival game 'LAST PARADISE', and the action-adventure title 'Woochi the Wayfarer' from Nexon Games, which was unveiled on the 12th.

Lee Jung-hun, the CEO of Nexon Japan, stated, "In the second quarter, our core strength in live service operations allowed MapleStory and Dungeon & Fighter to see a clear rebound, while new titles domestically and abroad performed beyond expectations." The CEO added, "As the resurgence of our key titles gains momentum and we have secured new growth engines, we will solidify the position of Nexon in the global market through a powerful IP lineup."

Meanwhile, Nexon previously announced a plan in February to repurchase 100 billion yen (approximately 934.6 billion KRW) worth of its own shares over the coming year, and completed a 50 billion yen (approximately 467.3 billion KRW) buyback by the end of June. Of the remaining 50 billion yen, 25 billion yen (approximately 233.6 billion KRW) is scheduled to be completed by the end of October, with the rest to be managed by February next year, depending on investment opportunities, financial conditions, and market environment.