Summary
- Krafton achieved record earnings in 2024, with a 42% increase in sales and 52% in operating profits.
- The success is attributed to PUBG IP sustainability and collaborations, with almost $688 million USD from PC and console sales.
- Krafton plans diverse projects for 2025, focusing on new game releases, PUBG IP expansion, and AI implementation.
South Korean holding company and video game publisher Krafton recorded record-breaking earnings for 2024, with all-time highs in both its sales and operating profits. Krafton is perhaps best known as the publisher behind the highly successful PUBG: Battlegrounds, as well as being the parent company of subsidiaries like TERA‘s Bluehole Studios and Subnautica‘s Unknown Worlds Entertainment, all of which have contributed to the Korean company reporting massive earnings increases in 2024.
Founded in 2018 as a parent company to Bluehole, Krafton began as a holding company for its internal video game properties before expanding to acquire other studios as subsidiaries. Krafton has since grown to be one of the largest video game companies in South Korea and has expanded its IP ownership to include hit video games like Subnautica and Hi-Fi Rush. With a number of big projects planned for 2025, Krafton has revealed the impressive growth it experienced in 2024 and how these trends may shape its future endeavors.
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Krafton unveils the first PUBG: Battlegrounds spin-off, and gives details about the game that players will be able to check out soon.
According to consolidated financial statements under Korean International Financial Reporting Standards, Krafton recorded over $2.7 trillion KRW ($1.4 billion USD) in earnings and $1.2 trillion KRW ($826 million USD) in 2024. These earnings mark new all-time highs for Krafton and represent a year-over-year growth of 42% in sales and 52% in operating profits. Krafton credits the milestone increases to the sustainability of the PUBG IP, especially with PUBG: Battlegrounds moving to a free-to-play model and driving growth in concurrent player counts. The continued success of PUBG, along with IP collaborations with various brands, was noted as contributing to almost $1 trillion KRW ($688 million USD) in PC and console sales for Krafton in 2024. Positive investor response to the record-breaking earnings and player interest in new changes to PUBG have encouraged Krafton to keep driving growth while planning for 2025.
Krafton Looks Ahead to 2025 After Breaking Records in 2024
Looking to build upon its financial success from 2024, Krafton has a number of projects already lined up for 2025. The company currently has several titles scheduled to release in 2025, including inZOI, Dark and Darker Mobile, Subnautica 2, and Dinkum Together. There are also plans in place for diverse content and services related to PUBG, including new games based on the IP. Krafton also intends to significantly invest in a “Big Franchise IP” while expanding its PUBG IP franchise strategy. Beyond its gaming focus, Krafton is also working to boost and leverage the implementation of Artificial Intelligence within the industry with its own AI capabilities, such as Co-Playable Characters. The company has asserted a dedication to its “competitive edge in the global gaming market” and aims to use its earnings to bring new experiences to players around the world.
In spite of difficult financial times for the video game industry, Krafton found monumental success in 2024 and hopes to keep the momentum rolling through 2025. It remains to be seen if the South Korean company will see continued growth in its earnings, but Krafton seems keen on utilizing its existing strategies to remain competitive and successful.
Krafton
- Date Founded
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March 26, 2007
- Headquarters
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South Korea
- Known For
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PUBG (PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds)