(ANN/KOREA HERALD) – Krafton, the Korean game developer, announced record earnings for the first half of this year, driven by the strong performance of its popular battle royale shooter, PUBG: Battlegrounds.
For the January-to-June period, Krafton achieved KRW1.37 trillion (USD1 billion) in revenue and KRW642.6 billion in operating profit, marking year-on-year increases of 48.3 per cent and 55 per cent, respectively. The second quarter alone saw Krafton reach new highs with KRW707 billion in revenue and KRW332.1 billion in operating profit.
The company attributed its record earnings to the continued success of PUBG across various platforms. The PC and console versions of the game saw increased traffic due to the Erangel Classic map update and a collaboration with K-pop group NewJeans. In the first half of 2024, monthly active users rose by 40 per cent, and the number of paying users more than doubled.
PUBG Mobile and Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) also performed well, with positive feedback stemming from localized content and enhanced monetization models. The collaboration with Middle Eastern actors and the introduction of upgradable outfits boosted traffic and sales for PUBG Mobile, while BGMI attracted new users with the US Bonus Challenge update and cricket-themed in-game items in partnership with the Mumbai Indians cricket team.
Looking ahead, Krafton plans to release two major titles in the latter half of this year: Dark and Darker Mobile, a fantasy extraction RPG, and Inzoi, a life simulation game. Both games will be showcased at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, starting August 21. The mobile RPG is slated for a global release in the fourth quarter, while Inzoi will enter early access before year-end.
Since 2021, Krafton has invested in 27 companies, including 14 in North America and eight in Europe, to diversify its gaming portfolio.
Additionally, Krafton announced its first major investment in Japan by scouting personnel from Tango Gameworks, a Japanese developer known for Hi-Fi Rush and The Evil Within. Tango Gameworks, acquired by Microsoft in 2021, ceased operations in May this year.
