Japanese mobile gaming company MIXI Inc. reported a 132% jump in first-half profit, driven by improved margins in its flagship Monster Strike game and gains from selling shares in staffing platform Timee Inc.
Net income rose to 5.23 billion yen ($35.4 million) in the six months through September, while revenue climbed 7.6% to 68.8 billion yen. The Tokyo-based company maintained its full-year profit forecast of 12 billion yen.
MIXI’s gaming division saw profits rise 20% despite revenue dropping 6.8%, as cost cuts and the absence of last year’s 10th anniversary campaign expenses for Monster Strike boosted margins. The sports unit turned profitable for the first time, posting 718 million yen in earnings as its TIPSTAR betting service gained traction.
The company’s investment division more than tripled its profit to 2.4 billion yen after selling part of its stake in Timee. MIXI also opened a new arena in Tokyo Bay for its professional basketball team Chiba Jets.
The digital photo-sharing app Mitene continued to lose money as MIXI increased spending on international marketing, though losses narrowed from the previous year.
