2025. 2. 2. 15:40ㆍKorean Economy
According to the gaming industry on the 31st, Krafton (CEO Kim Chang-han) is set to launch a soft release of its new title, 'Dark and Darker Mobile,' in Canada on February 5. A soft launch is a stage before the official release, where a game is launched without marketing to test gameplay and stability. The company plans to officially launch 'Dark and Darker Mobile' globally in the first half of 2024.
Developed by Bluehole Studio (CEO Jo Doo-in), Dark and Darker Mobile is an extraction RPG that blends battle royale survival, dungeon crawler exploration, and RPG elements. The game gained attention after conducting two global test runs last year and being showcased at Gamescom 2024.
This game represents Krafton’s new IP ambitions, as the company has mainly relied on PUBG for growth. The PC online version of 'Dark and Darker' has already made a global impact, and a survey conducted with visitors at Gamescom 2024 revealed that 91% expressed satisfaction after trying out Dark and Darker Mobile.
Ahn Jun-seok, the game’s PD, stated, "We are excited to introduce 'Dark and Darker Mobile' to global players through this Canadian soft launch. We hope players enjoy the unique gameplay and newly updated content."
Following the soft launch of Dark and Darker Mobile, Krafton will kick off early access for another highly anticipated title, 'inZOI,' on March 28.
inZOI is designed to offer realistic graphics, deep simulation mechanics, and immersive gameplay, allowing players to experience various unexpected scenarios and life stories. The game integrates Krafton’s AI technology, including a chatbot system powered by a Small Language Model (SLM) and advanced 3D printing mechanics, promising a next-level gaming experience.
One of inZOI’s most talked-about features is CPC (Character Personality Core), an AI-driven interactive character system developed in collaboration with NVIDIA. Unlike traditional NPCs, CPC-powered characters can engage in dynamic conversations, collaborate with players, and adapt flexibly to in-game situations. The system is based on NVIDIA’s ACE (Avatar Cloud Engine) technology, making inZOI one of the most advanced AI-integrated games in development.
Another major upcoming release is 'Subnautica 2,' developed by Unknown Worlds, a subsidiary of Krafton. As the official sequel to Subnautica, this survival-adventure game will allow players to explore an alien underwater world filled with strange marine life and hidden secrets. The first teaser trailer was revealed during Microsoft's 'Xbox Partner Preview' event in October 2024, and early access is expected to launch later this year. Krafton plans to incorporate player feedback into the game's ecosystem and storyline.
With multiple new IP launches in 2025, industry analysts are watching closely to see if Krafton can achieve another stepwise financial boost. Securities firms estimate Krafton's 2024 revenue to reach 2.77 trillion KRW ($2.1 billion) and operating profit at 1.23 trillion KRW ($940 million). As a major player alongside Nexon in the Korean gaming industry, Krafton is expected to surpass these numbers in 2025, potentially reaching 3.11 trillion KRW ($2.4 billion) in revenue and 1.38 trillion KRW ($1.05 billion) in operating profit.
Meanwhile, Krafton is also gaining recognition as an 'AI blue-chip' company due to its integration of CPC and other AI-driven technologies in games like inZOI. This comes amid recent disruptions caused by China’s new AI model, 'DeepSeek,' which has shaken the industry with ChatGPT-level capabilities at just one-tenth of the training cost, running on lower-tier chips.
Analyst Choi Seung-ho from SangSangIn Securities noted on the 30th that DeepSeek’s impact could reshape the AI landscape, identifying Naver as the top AI player in Korea’s internet sector and Krafton as the leading AI-driven gaming company.