On the day of Nexon's Q2 2026 earnings release, CEO Lee Jung-hun tasked employees with reviewing the company's cost structure and improving profitability. In an internal message, the CEO directly addressed the fact that while the company grew in scale, its operating profit had declined.

According to reports on the 13rd, Lee stated in an internal email, "While we continued to grow in scale this quarter, operating profit decreased year-on-year due to rising fees and user acquisition (UA) costs associated with our expansion strategy." He added, "To sustain the positive momentum shown by our new titles, we must simultaneously review our current cost structure and improve profitability."

He also clarified the responsibilities of management. "What Nexon needs right now is a clear judgment on where to focus our efforts," Lee said. "The role of management is to effectively manage costs to secure sufficient resources, then deploy them where they are needed most to continue creating new growth momentum." He added, "This process requires the support of all of you, who are helping to build the worlds we create."

This message was presented alongside an assessment of the company's achievements. While Lee began his email by stating, "Thanks to your dedication and competence in your respective roles, we were able to continue delivering solid results that exceeded forecasts this quarter," he also defined this period as a "critical time that shows the direction Nexon is heading and the challenges we must solve together." In effect, he brought up the challenges while discussing the company's successes.

The MapleStory franchise and ARC Raiders were highlighted as the key pillars of performance. CEO Lee stated that the MapleStory franchise grew 63% year-over-year, once again breaking its quarterly revenue record. Regarding ARC Raiders, which has surpassed 16.3 million units in cumulative global sales, he noted that it has established itself as a core title driving performance, accounting for approximately 15% of this quarter's revenue.

"Our achievements are the fruits of our efforts to diversify our portfolio by expanding Nexon's core assets into broader markets and platforms," he said. "As these efforts accumulate, we will be able to build a more resilient Nexon that is not swayed by the success or failure of one or two major titles."

MapleStory was presented as a prime example of IP diversification. CEO Lee explained that as the original game, launched in 2003, expands its global reach, the addition of 'MapleStory Worlds' and 'MapleStory Idle' is evolving the franchise into a massive, unified world. He added that recent initiatives, such as 'Maple Island' and animated films, are broadening touchpoints with users in the real world, stating, "This demonstrates that a single IP can be expanded in countless ways and serves as a milestone, setting a direction for other franchises to follow."

Expansion plans for other franchises were also shared. The Dungeon & Fighter franchise is focused on developing new titles to broaden its lineup, including 'Dungeon & Fighter Idle,' 'Dungeon & Fighter Classic,' 'Dungeon & Fighter: Arad,' and 'Project Overkill.' Meanwhile, the Mabinogi franchise, following the launch of 'Mabinogi Mobile' in Taiwan this past July, is scheduled to begin service in Japan in the fourth quarter. CEO Lee noted that commission fees and user acquisition costs have increased in tandem with these expansion efforts.

The email concluded with a request to the staff. "I express my deepest gratitude to all of you who are silently fulfilling your roles amidst a rapidly changing environment and numerous challenges," Lee said. "I ask for your continued support, including your candid questions, suggestions, and sharp critiques, as we embark on Nexon's next journey."