Nexon's Record Success
Nexon Achieves Record First-Half Sales, Fueled by Strong MapleStory and Ark Raiders Performance
Key Points
MapleStory franchise revenue rose 63% year-on-year in the second quarter, marking the highest quarterly figure for the franchise to date.
MapleStory Worlds delivered 123% year-on-year sales growth in Q2, boosted by content reinterpretations from creators such as Maple Planet in Korea and Maple Star in Taiwan.
Ark Raiders surpassed 16.3 million cumulative sales within nine months of its October launch, reinforcing Nexon’s next-generation IP status.
Nexon signaled an expanded H2 lineup, including a mobile version of Dave the Diver and the Japan launch of Mabinogi Mobile, to sustain growth.
Korea PC MapleStory revenue rose about 7% year-on-year in Q2, with North America and Europe also performing well following the summer updates.
Nexon posted record first-half sales of 2.56 trillion won ($1.8 billion) in 2026, up 17% from the same period last year, according to Korea Herald. The growth was driven by two franchises: the long-running MapleStory and the newer shooter ARC Raiders, which launched just nine months ago.
In Q2 alone, Nexon brought in 1.139 trillion won in sales. Operating profit fell 17% year-on-year to 294.3 billion won, largely due to tough comparisons with a strong Q2 in 2025, Seoul Daily reported.
MapleStory Hits Its Highest Revenue Quarter Ever
The MapleStory franchise rose 63% year-on-year in Q2, marking the highest quarterly revenue in the franchise's history, according to Korea Herald. Korea PC MapleStory revenue grew about 7% year-on-year. North America and Europe also performed well following a wave of summer updates.
A big piece of that growth came from MapleStory Worlds, a user-created content platform. It surged 123% year-on-year in Q2, Inven Global reported. Creator-led projects like Maple Planet in Korea and Maple Star in Taiwan powered the spike. The platform now accounts for roughly 15% of Nexon's total revenue.
ARC Raiders Becomes Nexon's Next Big IP in Nine Months
ARC Raiders launched in October 2025 and has already crossed 16.3 million cumulative sales, Seoul Daily reported. That pace makes it one of Nexon's fastest-growing new titles ever. The game helped push overseas revenue up 44% for the first half of 2026.
PC and console revenue rose 27% for the same period, Gamemeca noted. Nexon called ARC Raiders a next-generation IP — meaning a franchise it plans to build on for years. The game's early success gives the company a strong second pillar alongside MapleStory.
Nexon's Second Half Lineup Targets Mobile and New Markets
Nexon is not slowing down after a record first half. The company plans to launch a mobile version of Dave the Diver, its popular indie-style cooking and diving game, Herald Business reported. It also plans to bring Mabinogi Mobile to Japan, a major gaming market where the classic MMO already has brand recognition.
Further MapleStory content expansions are also planned for H2. Nexon is betting that a steady stream of new content and regional launches will sustain the momentum it built in the first half.
IP-Led Strategy Pays Off Across Global Markets
Nexon's results show a clear pattern: lean on proven IPs while expanding geographically. MapleStory and ARC Raiders together drove the bulk of the company's half-year record. Overseas revenue climbed 44% in H1, showing that Nexon's growth is not just a Korea story, Seoul Daily reported.
Net profit for the first half came in at 813.7 billion won. Operating profit hit 837.9 billion won. These numbers reflect a company firing on multiple cylinders — established franchises growing, new IPs breaking through, and international markets picking up, according to Herald Business.
Sentiment
Mostly PositivePublishers
10
Articles
3
Reach
13
