(LEAD) NC shifts to profits in Q2

South Korea's gaming conglomerate NC Corp. turned profitable in the second quarter of 2023, reversing a previous loss, according to a regulatory filing disclosed by the company on August 11. The net profit for Q2 was 131.2 billion won (US$92.8 million), a stark contrast to the 36 billion won loss incurred in the same period last year.

Operating profit for Q2 reached an impressive 173.9 billion won, marking a staggering 1,053 percent increase compared to the previous year. Revenue for the period also surged by 101.5 percent, reaching a total of 770.5 billion won.

Sales distribution across regions showed a significant shift, with 48 percent coming from South Korea, 25 percent from Asia, and 27 percent from North America and Europe combined. Notably, over half of the company's total sales were generated outside of South Korea, a trend that has persisted for four consecutive quarters.

The PC games division led the charge, setting a record with sales attributed to its flagship MMORPG game Lineage Classic. The mobile game division followed closely, with revenue rising slightly to 185.3 billion won. Meanwhile, sales from the mobile casual unit, which constituted 22 percent of the total sales, amounted to 169.7 billion won.

Looking ahead, NC Corp. announced its intent to participate in Gamescom 2026, one of the world's premier game conventions scheduled to take place in Cologne, Germany later this month. The company also plans to unveil its new global game lineup during the event.