NCSOFT Swings Back to Profit as AION 2 Lifts Q3 Revenue 91%
Operating profit hits 119.6 billion won against a small loss a year ago; overseas sales now 54% of revenue.
NCSOFT is back in the black. The Korean MMORPG maker reported third-quarter revenue of 686.5 billion won, up 91% year on year, and an operating profit of 119.6 billion won, compared with an operating loss of 750 million won a year earlier.
AION 2 is the engine
AION 2 entered early access on September 30 and launched globally on October 5. It peaked at 410,000 concurrent players and had earned 110.3 billion won by the day before results, according to The Korea Times. Most of that lands in the fourth quarter, so the next report should show more of its effect.
Less dependent on Korea
Overseas sales made up 54% of revenue, the fifth quarter in a row that share has risen, with growth called out in North America and Europe. Mobile casual games brought in 171.9 billion won, a quarter of the total.
Why it matters
NCSOFT spent two years cutting costs after its legacy Lineage mobile titles faded. A hit new MMORPG with real overseas traction is the turnaround investors were waiting for. Read our Lineage history feature for where it all began.
Source: The Korea Times.