DeNA reported a sevenfold jump in second-quarter profit as Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket drove gaming revenue higher, though the Japanese entertainment company cautioned that growth will slow from the title’s blockbuster debut.
Net income climbed 668% to ¥23 billion ($149 million) in the six months ended September, while operating profit surged 354% to ¥24.9 billion, the Tokyo-based company said Monday. Revenue rose 18% to ¥83.2 billion. The mobile card game, which launched Oct. 30, generated ¥33.6 billion in gaming segment revenue, a 49% increase that more than offset declines elsewhere.
The Yokohama DeNA BayStars baseball franchise contributed ¥24.6 billion in revenue, up 14%, while the Pococha and IRIAM live-streaming platforms returned to profitability after marketing cuts. Equity-method investments in Cygames and GO swung to a ¥4.4 billion gain from a year-earlier loss.
DeNA projected full-year revenue of ¥146 billion to ¥154 billion, down as much as 11% from the previous period, with operating profit falling between 14% and 31% to ¥20 billion-¥25 billion. The company cited difficulty forecasting Pokemon Pocket’s trajectory after its strong start and said it expects “a reaction from the initial performance” as user acquisition normalizes.
The healthcare unit narrowed losses to ¥2.3 billion despite a 7.9% revenue decline, while new ventures including AI initiatives expanded their deficit to ¥1.3 billion as the company prioritizes longer-term growth investments.
