Krafton targets next big franchise IP with studio investment and publishing push
Summary
Krafton CEO CH Kim unveiled a 5-year growth strategy at a company all-hands
Three-pillar plan: first-party studio expansion, studio management overhaul, and publishing diversification
Core ambition is to replicate and build beyond PUBG: Battlegrounds' franchise success
"Aim to drive exponential growth in [our] corporate value"
01
The franchise imperative
Krafton's overarching 5-year goal is to find and build a "big franchise IP"
PUBG: Battlegrounds remains the revenue backbone, with two active offshoots
PUBG Mobile India (region-specific) and New State Mobile (global iOS & Android)
New IP must replicate PUBG's long-term commercial durability
02
First-party studio investment
Krafton operates 14 studios, including Striking Distance Studios, Unknown Worlds, and Tango Gameworks
Tango Gameworks was recently revived after its closure by Microsoft
Planned boost in studio investment targets talent acquisition and pipeline strengthening
Goal is to "enhance pipelines, attract top-tier talent, and further specialize development capabilities"
03
Studio management evolution
Krafton is restructuring its internal studio management system
Focus on "efficient resource allocation" across all development stages
Priority given to "most competitive IPs" to maximize their potential
Described as key to achieving "sustainable growth"
04
Publishing and licensing diversification
Krafton is expanding into second-party publishing and IP licensing
Notable deal: partnership with Pocketpair to develop a mobile version of Palworld
Userbase and revenue growth through diversification is a stated strategic pillar
External publishing positions Krafton beyond pure first-party development
05
Open strategic questions
2024 investments in Red Rover, Eschatology Entertainment, and Spoon Labs (non-gaming video platform) left unaddressed in the plan
No mention of potential acquisitions in Kim's mid or long-term roadmap
Generative AI and deep learning — areas Kim showed interest in previously — also absent from the strategy update
06
What's next
Krafton's 5-year plan sets the stage for major IP bets across its expanding studio network
Publishing pipeline growth expected as Palworld mobile and similar licensing deals develop
Studio specialization investments likely to surface in project announcements through 2025–2026
Explore more: partnerships and alliances
Events
Companies
Games
Locations
South Korea
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