Krafton Soars to Record Profits, Plans Big for 2025

Krafton, the South Korean video game holding company and publisher behind PUBG: Battlegrounds, reported record-breaking profits in 2024. The company achieved all-time highs in both sales and operating profits, exceeding 2.7 trillion KRW ($1.4 billion USD) in earnings and 1.2 trillion KRW ($826 million USD) in operating profit. This represents a significant year-over-year growth of 42% in sales and 52% in operating profits.

Krafton attributes this success to the sustained popularity of the PUBG IP, particularly the free-to-play model of PUBG: Battlegrounds, which led to increased concurrent player counts. The company also highlighted successful IP collaborations and strong PC and console sales, nearing 1 trillion KRW ($688 million USD).

Founded in 2018 as a holding company for Bluehole, Krafton has grown through acquisitions and now owns popular IPs like Subnautica and Hi-Fi Rush. It has several projects planned for 2025, including new game releases (inZOI, Dark and Darker Mobile, Subnautica 2, Dinkum Together) and diverse PUBG-related content and services.

Krafton also plans to invest in a “Big Franchise IP” and expand its PUBG IP franchise strategy. Additionally, the company is actively developing its AI capabilities, such as Co-Playable Characters, and aims to maintain its competitive edge in the global gaming market.

Despite challenges in the video game industry, Krafton’s 2024 success and ambitious 2025 plans indicate its strong position and commitment to innovation and growth.