Can Krafton’s 13 New IPs Finally Rival PUBG?

After smashing past KRW 1.54 trillion in H1 2025, PUBG remains the undisputed cash cow for Krafton. Yet the studio behind the battle royale behemoth is quietly gearing up for its next chapter: 13 original IPs, strategic studio acquisitions and an ambitious push into AI-driven gameplay. Players and investors alike face one pressing question: can any of these ventures step out of PUBG’s long, bullet-riddled shadow?

1. PUBG: The Foundation of Krafton’s War Chest

Let’s get one thing straight—PUBG still funds nearly every risk Krafton takes. On PC, the Contender upgrade path, seasonal Battle Passes and rotating event maps keep seasoned commanders engaged. On mobile, both PUBG MOBILE and BGMI rake in microtransaction revenue with mech-inspired X-Suit skins, premium weapon passes and regional tie-ins like India’s Carnatic Clash festival content.

High-profile crossovers—think Bugatti supercars, K-pop idols and global sports leagues—grab headlines and social media buzz. Yet veteran players warn of “collaboration fatigue,” noting that back-to-back partnerships sometimes feel more like marketing overload than genuine content. Still, as long as PUBG continues to generate profits and maintain active users, Krafton has the runway to experiment. The looming pitfall: the battle-royale craze could cool before any single new title goes gold.

2. Betting Big on 13 New IPs

Krafton’s 2025 roadmap now includes 13 diverse projects, from sci-fi ARPGs and detective noir thrillers to cozy life sims and co-op horrors. A few early headliners under active development:

• Project Black Budget: A stealth espionage thriller built around branching narratives, high-stakes infiltration and ripple-effect choices that leave no loose ends.
• Rivals Hover League: Futuristic sports meets aerial combat as teams pilot customizable hovercraft, mastering tactical power-ups and high-octane maneuvers for scoreboard glory.
• Untitled Noir Detective: Step into a moody, 1940s cityscape. Dynamic dialogue trees and morally ambiguous suspects test both your wits and your ethics.
• Kingdoms & Conquest: A high-fantasy kingdom-builder with layered diplomacy, resource management and epic siege warfare where allegiances can crumble in an instant.
• Co-op Horror: Teamwork is your only lifeline against evolving monster AI, environmental scares and multiple escape routes that change each session.

Behind the scenes, teams are prototyping a sci-fi ARPG with sprawling star systems, a meta-driven narrative puzzle game that weaves choices into its mechanics, and an in-depth life sim—similar to inZOI, which launched in March 2025 and drew over a million players in its first week. Each concept aims to capture a unique corner of the gaming landscape and attract different communities.

Industry analysts caution that juggling too many high-profile projects risks diluting polish. Iconic studios like Rockstar and Blizzard focus on just a handful of tentpole releases annually. Can Krafton maintain quality across 13 IPs? The answer may hinge on its next moves.

3. Strategic Studio Acquisitions

To shore up expertise, Krafton has snapped up specialist studios. The marquee deal: Eleventh Hour Games, creator of the acclaimed ARPG Last Epoch. Krafton vows “deep, long-term support” without stifling creative freedom—providing infrastructure, live-ops backing and community management. If integration goes smoothly, these indie teams could challenge genre leaders. If it misfires, they risk becoming just another corporate label.

4. AI Ambitions: From Benchmarks to Boss Fights

AI is more than a buzzword at Krafton. Using the Orak benchmarking tool and a custom large-language model co-developed with SK Telecom, Krafton aims to:

• Create smarter NPCs that remember player actions and adapt tactics.
• Deploy adaptive matchmaking that fine-tunes challenges and rewards.
• Roll out advanced anti-cheat systems that detect exploits faster, with fewer false positives.

Imagine an AI companion reminding you of a quest you skipped, or dynamic difficulty that learns your playstyle and scales on the fly. So far, public demos have been limited to slides about cheat detection speeds. Truly reactive foes or personalized mission threads remain on the drawing board—promises that could redefine immersive storytelling if delivered.

5. Late 2025: The Moment of Truth

PUBG fans can expect more weapon skins, celebrity tie-ins and seasonal events through the end of the year. But Krafton’s real test arrives in late 2025 and early 2026, when closed betas and live demos for its first wave of new IPs begin. Key benchmarks to watch:

• Social buzz—stream viewership, highlight reels and word-of-mouth chatter.
• Engagement metrics—how many players stick around after their first session.
• Critical reception—whether reviewers applaud narrative depth, gameplay innovation or technical polish.

A viral breakout could validate Krafton’s vision and usher in a new era. A lukewarm reception might relegate these projects to “interesting experiments” rather than blockbuster hits.

Conclusion

Krafton’s H1 2025 performance is undeniably impressive, but the company’s true challenge lies ahead. By diversifying into 13 new IPs, securing specialist studios and doubling down on AI, Krafton aims to rewrite its own story beyond PUBG’s immense success. Nail just a few of these launches, and Krafton could emerge as a multi-genre powerhouse. Fall short, and this record windfall may only have prolonged PUBG’s reign—without delivering the next generation of hits.