Krafton Unveils Ambitious Plans for New Franchise IPs to Build on PUBG Success

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Summary

  • Krafton plans to expand first-party production to secure new franchise IPs.
  • “Second Party Publishing and Licensing” tactics will be employed for user base growth.
  • The company aims to secure a new “Big Franchise IP” to build on PUBG’s success.

Krafton Inc., a South Korean publishing firm, has unveiled its business strategy for the year 2025. This roadmap covers various aspects including management style, resource distribution, intellectual property acquisition, in-house game development (especially first-party games), and more. Notably, Krafton is both the publisher and the parent company of PUBG: Battlegrounds, an incredibly popular battle royale game that was developed by its affiliate, PUBG Studios.

A gaming company titan, worth more than $10 Billion USD, has been on an acquisition spree since its establishment in 2018. It has taken ownership of multiple studios and intellectual properties, contributing to the creation and launch of various games such as “The Callisto Protocol”, “[REDACTED]”, “New State Mobile”, and “Moonbreaker”. Notably, Krafton has also acquired Tango Gameworks, which was previously under Microsoft’s control, along with the rights to future instalments in the “Hi-Fi Rush” series.

At a company-wide gathering on January 16, 2025, Krafton disclosed its strategy to boost the production of first-party content to acquire fresh franchise intellectual properties (IPs). The company aims to enhance investment in its 14 creative studios to amplify the number of new titles and attract skilled professionals from the industry. Furthermore, they plan to introduce “Second Party Publishing and Licensing” methods as part of their growth strategy to expand existing user bases for both upcoming and current IPs such as Krafton’s future game, Subnautica 2, developed by Unknown Worlds.

Krafton Looks to New and Old Franchises for Continued Growth

Emphasizing “long-term goals and sustainable expansion” as primary drivers, the company detailed its plans to revamp its management structure and focus on optimizing resource distribution throughout the entire project development phase. As declared by CEO Kim Chang-han, “Beginning this year, we will unveil our new titles. We are firmly dedicated to acquiring a fresh ‘Blockbuster IP’ that will further the achievements of PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS.

With Krafton unveiling their lifelike simulator game inZOI at Gamescom 2024, and mobile adaptations of Dark and Darker and Palworld in the works following recent partnerships, it appears that Krafton is preparing for a substantial growth in multiple markets. Their venture into various sectors may also be interpreted as a precautionary measure to safeguard against the contraction of the games industry during 2023-24.

Although Krafton’s game, The Callisto Protocol, faced a significant setback, the company appears resilient and continues to grow in market value. Its recent investments in various new studios and non-gaming sectors suggest a company capable of overcoming occasional mishaps while continuing its trajectory of growth. The nature of its upcoming original intellectual property remains unclear due to its diverse exploration of different genres, but it’s certain to make a noticeable impact when it arrives.

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2025-01-19 21:08