Netmarble Corp. is betting on nine new game releases and the return of K-pop group BTS to fuel growth after ending a two-year losing streak.
The South Korean gaming company, which holds a 9.44% stake in BTS’s management firm HYBE Co., reported an operating profit of 215.6 billion won ($147.4 million) in 2024, reversing losses from the previous two years.
“This year will be a turning point for Netmarble,” CEO Kim Byung-kyu told shareholders at Monday’s annual meeting, where the company confirmed its transition to a single-CEO structure following the departure of co-CEO Kwon Young-sik.
Netmarble plans to launch several titles in 2025, including mobile game “Game of Thrones: KingsRoad” and console game “The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin.” It already released “RF Online Next” in March, a reboot of the 2004 game.
The company is also considering reviving plans to list its wholly-owned studio Netmarble Neo on the Kospi exchange, though Kim cautioned the unit must first strengthen its competitiveness and demonstrate value to the parent company.
Netmarble reduced its stake in HYBE last year through a price return swap arrangement designed to benefit if BTS resumes full activities after military service. Five of the seven BTS members are expected to complete their service by June.
