(LEAD) NC turns to operating profit in Q3

South Korean gaming giant NC Corp. reported an operating profit of 119.6 billion won in Q3, marking a turnaround from the same period a year earlier when it incurred an operating loss. The company's sales for the July-September quarter surged 90.7 percent to 686.5 billion won, per a regulatory filing. However, net income declined 94.2 percent year-over-year to 20 billion won.

The improvement in performance was attributed to the success of Lineage Classic and Aion 2, the company's flagship games. The drop in net income was attributed to foreign exchange fluctuations and a base effect from the sale of its office building in southern Seoul during the same quarter last year. Cumulatively, NC reported sales of 2.14 trillion won as of the end of September, a 83 percent increase from the comparable period a year earlier.

Revenue breakdown by country showed 46 percent from South Korea, 34 percent from the United States, 20 percent from Europe, and 20 percent from Asia. Overseas sales accounted for 54 percent of the total revenue, demonstrating the fifth consecutive quarter of growth. The company plans to continue its growth momentum and will roll out 10 new titles in the global market by the end of the next year.

NC has also raised its 2026 sales guidance to 2.8 trillion won, with a projected revenue range for 2027 between 3.2 trillion won and 3.4 trillion won.