Krafton Stock: PUBG Powerhouse, Will 2025 New Releases Soar?
Hey there, investment enthusiasts! Today, we’re diving into Krafton Inc (259960.KS), a global gaming titan behind PUBG. For 40-something beginner investors familiar with stocks or ETFs, Krafton’s $14.3B market cap, PUBG dominance, and new releases/acquisitions make it a thrilling pick! With a 2025 stock price of ₩385,500, +5.5% in the last month, and a KOSPI top-50 ranking, Krafton is making waves. This post covers Krafton’s basics, history, price movements, public sentiment, global outlook, my predictions, and similar companies. Ready to level up your portfolio with Krafton? Let’s jump in! 🚀
1. What’s Krafton Stock?
Krafton is the gaming giant behind PUBG (PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds), driving growth through game development, publishing, and M&A. With a $14.3B market cap (05/21/2025, kr.investing.com), it ranks 48th in KOSPI. For new investors, Krafton offers PUBG stability, new release momentum, and AI/metaverse ventures.
- Core Businesses: PUBG (70%), new releases/publishing (20%), others (10%) (krafton.com).
- Key Features: 0.2% dividend yield, 2025 releases (inZOI, Dark and Darker Mobile), Tango Gameworks acquisition (infostockdaily.co.kr).
- Global Reach: 95% overseas revenue, Asia (50%), North America/Europe (40%) (namu.wiki).
- Korean Market: KOSPI-listed, gaming ETF inclusion, China regulation concerns (@meta_pavy).
- Stats: 2025 Q1 revenue $6.8B, operating profit $3.5B, rising ARPU (mk.co.kr).
Krafton blends “PUBG, new releases, and AI” to power gaming and innovation.
2. Krafton’s History: From PUBG to Global Leader
Krafton, founded as Bluehole in 2007, struck gold with PUBG in 2017. After its 2021 KOSPI IPO, it expanded via new releases and acquisitions, aiming for global dominance by 2025.
- 2007: Bluehole founded, focused on MMORPGs (krafton.com).
- 2017: PUBG launched, hitting 100M global downloads (namu.wiki).
- 2021: KOSPI IPO, $27B market cap (fnguide.com).
- 2025 Q1: inZOI/Dark and Darker Mobile slated, Tango Gameworks reestablished (infostockdaily.co.kr).
Krafton’s 2025 $14.3B market cap marks it as a gaming powerhouse.
3. Krafton’s Past Price Movements
Krafton soared with PUBG success, earnings surprises, and new release hype but faced volatility from China regulations and past new release flops. Here’s the 05/21/2025 snapshot:
- 2024 Low: ₩200,000 (kr.investing.com).
- 2024 High: ₩396,000 (April) (opinionnews.co.kr).
- 05/21/2025: ₩385,500, $14.3B market cap, +5.5% in 1 month, 0.3M shares traded (kr.investing.com).
- 52-Week Range: ₩200,000~₩396,000, -2.65% from high, +92.75% from low (finance.naver.com).
- 7-Day Change: +2.8%, outperforming KOSPI (+1.5%) (marketscreener.com).
Krafton’s 2025 new release buzz fuels gains, but China risks add volatility (@meta_pavy).
4. What People Think of Krafton
Krafton earns praise for PUBG stability, new release potential, and AI investments, but China regulations and new release risks raise concerns.
The Good
- Earnings: 2025 Q1 operating profit +47.3%, revenue $6.8B (mk.co.kr).
- Korean Sentiment: X calls it a “PUBG+new release winner,” favoring long-term bets (@insight_co_kr).
- Analysts: 8/10 say “Buy,” target ₩490,000 (+27.11%) (mk.co.kr).
- Upsides: inZOI/Dark and Darker Mobile launches, Tango Gameworks deal (infostockdaily.co.kr).
The Bad
- Regulation: China gaming rules, 10% revenue risk (paxnet.co.kr).
- New Release Risks: New State/Callisto Protocol flops (namu.wiki).
- Volatility: +5.5% in 1 month, short-term pullback fears (businesspost.co.kr).
- X Sentiment: “China rules make short-term trades tough” (@meta_pavy).
Koreans see Krafton as a “gaming future star” but worry about regulations and new releases.
5. Krafton vs. Similar Companies
Krafton competes in the gaming market with these players:
- Nexon: $23.2B market cap, Dungeon&Fighter/MapleStory (kr.investing.com).
- Netmarble: $3.9B market cap, Solo Leveling/Marble Future (finance.yahoo.com).
- Activision Blizzard: $80B market cap, Call of Duty/World of Warcraft (bloomberg.com).
Krafton shines with PUBG but trails Nexon’s market cap and Activision’s global reach.
6. Global Context and Krafton’s Outlook
In May 2025, the gaming market sees global expansion, metaverse/AI demand, and China regulatory hurdles. Here’s what shapes Krafton’s future:
Market and Policy Factors
- Gaming Market: $500B by 2030, 8% annual growth (bloomberg.com).
- Policy Risks: China gaming restrictions, EU data laws (paxnet.co.kr).
- Korean Market: KOSPI gaming ETFs up 12%, Krafton included (@insight_co_kr).
- Upsides: inZOI/Dark and Darker Mobile August launches, AI R&D push (m.mt.co.kr).
Expert Forecasts
- 2025: ₩490,000 (+27.11%), $18.2B market cap (mk.co.kr).
- 2026: $1.9B revenue, $0.8B operating profit (infostockdaily.co.kr).
- 2030: ₩600,000 (+55.64%) (opinionnews.co.kr).
- Risks: China regulations, new release flops, investment costs (businesspost.co.kr).
Risks
- Regulation: China revenue cuts pressure profits.
- New Releases: Failure risks stock pullbacks.
- Costs: AI/acquisition spending may dent margins.
7. My Take: Where’s Krafton Headed?
Krafton’s PUBG strength, new releases, and AI/metaverse bets make it a top gaming play. I predict a Q3 2025 price of ₩420,000, Q4 inZOI success, and 2026 Tango Gameworks gains, hitting a $15.5 ~ $17.8B market cap and ₩450,000 ~ ₩500,000. August’s Gamescom and November’s earnings will spark momentum.
Still, China regulations and new release risks are hurdles. Try a $400/month small investment and 2-3 year hold, and track Krafton’s X updates (@insight_co_kr) and August news. Can Krafton dominate global gaming?
Wrap-Up
Krafton battles Nexon, Netmarble, and Activision Blizzard, leading with PUBG and new releases. What’s your take on Krafton’s future? Drop a comment! Catch you in the next post! 😊
References
- kr.investing.com, krafton.com, comp.fnguide.com, businesspost.co.kr, m.mt.co.kr, mk.co.kr, opinionnews.co.kr, infostockdaily.co.kr
- X community posts (@stocktrainkorea, @insight_co_kr, @meta_pavy)
- bloomberg.com
Investing involves risks, and this post is for informational purposes only, not investment advice. Stocks are high-risk assets.
