Overall results exceeded expectations, supported by Embark Studios' extraction shooter and Nexon's MapleStory franchise
Nexon's Q2 results exceeded expectations, driven by strong performances from its MapleStory franchise and the ongoing success of Embark Studios' Arc Raiders.
The company reported a 77% year-over-year increase in net income this quarter, which was primarily attributed to a ¥1.7 billion ($10.6 million) FX loss for the period – a significant improvement over a ¥17.5 billion ($109.9 million) loss in Q2 2025.
Operating income fell 17% in Nexon's second quarter, which the company said "reflected a shift in its product mix with higher revenue-linked costs" such as creator fees, user acquisition costs, and cloud service fees from global live services and data usage, as well as higher software service fees.
Among its main franchises, Embark Studios' Arc Raiders contributed ¥18.3 billion ($114.9 million) in revenue in the quarter and has generated more than ¥88 billion ($552.8 million) since launch.
Arc Raiders sold an additional 800,000 units in Q2, bringing total sales to 16.3 million. Preparations continue for its largest content update since launch, scheduled for release in October.
MapleStory, Dungeon & Fighter, and FC collectively generated ¥81.2 billion ($510.1 million) in revenue, down 5% year-over-year.
MapleStory revenue increased 63% overall. MapleStory Worlds surpassed the company's outlook, growing 123% year-over-year, driven by two new user-generated worlds launched in late April in Korea and Taiwan.
Dungeon & Fighter revenue "performance as expected," declining 44% year-on-year. Nexon expects revenue to fall further in Q3 but improve sequentially.
The FC franchise revenue was below Nexon's outlook. FC Online monetisation and traffic "were softer than expected", and it expects revenue to also recover sequentially following the June update.
Nexon has four new games planned for 2026: Arad: Idle RPG in Q4, the mobile version of Dave the Diver launching in late September, Azur Promilia, and Temppal: Overgeared.
For the third quarter, Nexon expects revenue between ¥120.7 billion ($758.4 million) and ¥133.4 billion ($838.2 million), representing a 2% to 12% year-over-year increase. Operating income is forecast between ¥22.6 billion ($142 million) and ¥32.3 billion ($202.9 million), a decrease of 40% to 14%.
"Looking ahead to the second half of this year, a steady sequence of catalysts include continued strength in the MapleStory franchise, Frozen Trail update for Arc Raiders, and a series of new title releases," Nexon said in an earnings letter.
"In a broader context of a well-established contraction in the game sector, Nexon's opportunities far outweigh our challenges. At our core, established game franchises, built on massive and deeply committed player communities, provide an economic foundation for our business.
"This allows us to continue investing in high-potential new games and attracting world-class talent made available by global layoffs.