Nexon launches 250 billion won gaming IP investment program

Nexon has announced a new investment program valued at up to 250 billion won ($179 million) to identify and support promising gaming intellectual properties (IP). The initiative is a collaborative effort involving the Korean government and Kona Venture Partners to assist emerging developers in expanding their reach to a global market.

A central component of this program is the 120 billion won Kona Global IP Investment Fund, established through Nexon’s new subsidiary, Nexon Partners, in partnership with Kona Venture Partners. This will be supplemented by 60 billion won from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism via the Korea Fund of Funds, effectively doubling the investment capacity.

Targeted investment areas include new IPs with global potential, next-generation live-service games, and developers utilizing artificial intelligence. Unlike traditional publishing deals, Nexon stated it will not require recipients to sign publishing agreements, allowing developers to maintain independence while accessing capital for scaling and marketing.