South Korean IT company NHN has recently intensified its focus on the gaming business. Following CEO Chung U-jin’s New Year’s announcement of a plan to “rebuild the gaming legacy,” the company has detailed its upcoming releases. NHN plans to launch 11 new titles by next year, reflecting its renewed commitment to the sector.
According to industry sources on July 25, the company began the second closed beta test (CBT) for its new game, Darkest Days. This open-world shooting RPG tells a story of survival in a zombie-infested world, featuring a variety of weapons, obstacles, and action sequences. The game offers both single-player and various multiplayer modes.
Darkest Days is NHN’s first major self-developed title since the release of C9 in 2009, marking its entry into the mid-core gaming segment, which blends casual and hardcore elements. The company plans to incorporate feedback from Korean players in the CBT, running until July 31, to fine-tune the game for a full release later this year.
NHN plans to release five new games this year, including Darkest Days. The company will also launch a global version of Wooparoo Odyssey, a social network game (SNG) introduced in Korea last October. Wooparoo Odyssey is a sequel to Wooparoo Mountain, which NHN operated from 2013 to 2020 and achieved top rankings in the App Store and casual game sales in Korea.
In the second half of the year, NHN will enter the subculture genre with Stella Fantasy, a collectible RPG. Developed by Ring Games, the team behind the global hit King’s Raid, and published by NHN, this game represents a major addition to the company’s lineup. NHN will also release the social casino game Pebble City and Project G (tentative title), developed by its Japanese subsidiary, NHN PlayArt.
NHN’s release schedule extends into next year, with six more titles in development: IP-based RPGs Project RE and Project BA, casual PvP game Tiger Gate, action game Dream Hacker, puzzle game Project MM, and action game Project D. Including the five games set for release this year, the company will introduce a total of 11 new titles, showcasing a diverse range of genres.
Kim Sang-ho, head of NHN’s Game Business Division, said at the Darkest Days demo event on July 18 at the headquarters in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province, “Gaming is NHN’s foundational and core business. Beginning with Darkest Days, we will strive to excel in our traditional web-board games and venture into new and challenging areas.”
