Kakao Games' new MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game), 'World of Goblin,' has maintained its position in the top tier of revenue rankings for one month since launch, continuing to gain popularity. It is assessed that the strategy of attracting mid- and low-spending users by offering a light membership plan priced in the 20,000 won range per month has proven effective. Attention is now turning to whether the company can achieve consecutive hits with 'Odin Q: Valkyries Call,' scheduled for release in January next year.
According to Google Play on the 7th, 'World of Goblin' is cruising at third place in revenue as of the 6th. After achieving first place in revenue just five days following its launch on October 8, it maintained the top spot until November 5, but dropped two places due to the fourth-anniversary update for 'Goddess of Victory: NIKKE' and an update for 'Lineage M.'
According to iGAWorks Mobile Index, 'World of Goblin' is estimated to have generated total revenue of 26.9 billion won last month. It is assessed that the game broke the existing MMORPG operational formula, which targeted a small number of high-spending users, by capturing a large number of mid- and low-spending users. According to Mobile Index, 'World of Goblin's' weekly active user count (WAU) for last week (October 26 to November 1) was approximately 204,000, surpassing NC's 'Lineage M' (162,000), Com2uS's 'Zeus: God of Arrogance,' which ranks fourth in revenue (75,000), Smilegate's 'Eclipse: The Awakening,' which ranks ninth in revenue (50,000), and Netmarble's 'Sol: Enchant,' which ranks 14th in revenue (14,000).
The secret lies in its low-burden business model (BM). Key to this are the 'Combat Membership' (11,000 won per 30 days), which provides combat convenience such as additional skill slots and reduced cooldown times for certain skills, and the 'Growth Membership' (22,000 won per 30 days), which offers benefits for crafting, training, and trading, including increased equipment crafting success rates and reduced training time. By using the integrated membership that bundles both plans (29,700 won per 30 days), users can subscribe for less than 30,000 won per month. Other paid elements, such as mounts and clothing, are purely cosmetic with no stat-boosting effects, minimizing inequality resulting from spending differences.
The gameplay also received favorable reviews. 'World of Goblin' eliminated the class distinction, which was considered an essential element of MMORPGs, allowing users to freely combine skills of their choice. As a result, it has become a secondary source of enjoyment, activating research and discussion among users regarding optimal skill combinations. The 2.5D (dimensional) dot graphics and the 'Tao Arts system' are also points of differentiation.
However, as 'World of Goblin' is a lighter game, there are limits to its ability to immediately improve the condition of Kakao Games, which has recorded operating losses for eight consecutive quarters. The industry views 'Odin Q: Valkyries Call,' planned for release in January next year, as Kakao Games' true test. It is a sequel to Kakao Games' most successful IP (intellectual property), 'Odin: Valhalla Rising,' and is a classic MMORPG that features intense growth and large-scale competition. It is scheduled to launch simultaneously in three countries—South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan—in January next year. The securities market forecasts that the average daily revenue for 'Odin Q' during the first 30 days after launch will reach approximately 1.5 billion won.
A Kakao Games official stated, "Odin Q: Valkyries Call is one of the core anticipated titles we consider most important," adding, "We will do our best to prepare for the launch and enhance service quality so that Odin Q: Valkyries Call can successfully establish itself in the market, following the success of World of Goblin."
in TECH
