Krafton, the renowned game developer, recently announced its global publishing contract for the popular PC simulation game, Dinkum, which promises to bolster its portfolio amid fluctuated stock performance.
Dinkum, created by Australian developer James Bendon, was released on Steam for early access back in July 2022, and has attracted significant player attention ever since. The game invites players to immerse themselves in Australia’s vast wilderness, where they can forage, hunt, mine, fish, and build their own villages. Players enjoy creating unique environments and expressing their creativity, all within the vibrant game world. Since its release, Dinkum has sold more than 1 million copies globally, maintaining positive user reviews and captivating audiences worldwide.
On February 12, 2025, Krafton revealed the new publishing contract, which grants the company rights over all Dinkum-related intellectual property, including the upcoming spin-off game, Dinkum Together, currently being developed by Krafton’s own creative studio, 5-Min Lab. This spinoff was initially introduced last year during G-STAR 2024, and it seeks to expand the Dinkum experience across platforms.
“Dinkum has already surpassed 1 million copies sold and remains popular with players,” reported Kim Geun-hwa of Infostock Daily, reflecting the game's positive reception and promising market performance.
Accompanying the announcement of the publishing agreement, Krafton also initiated marketing efforts to expand Dinkum’s reach. The company has updated the game to support 14 official languages, enhancing usability for diverse player demographics. New languages include Korean, Japanese, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Thai, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Indonesian, Turkish, and Russian, alongside the existing English support.
To celebrate this expansion, Krafton is hosting a sale on Steam from February 12 to February 19, where players can purchase Dinkum at a 20% discount. This promotional effort is aimed at increasing accessibility and drawing more users to the game.
While Krafton reinvigorates its gaming portfolio with this partnership, its stock performance tells another story. The company's shares were down on the Korea Stock Exchange at around 33,500 won, reflecting concerns over its overall performance amid market forecasts predicting lower growth prospects this year. Reports indicated downgrades from analysts, such as Kang Seok-oh of Shinhan Investment Corp., who lowered Krafton's investment advice from 'short-term buy' to 'neutral.' Kang expressed, “Krafton has met its target prices due to heightened excitement over new releases, but without proving development and publishing capabilities beyond Battlegrounds, it’s tough to expand value.”
Investor skepticism seems to be rooted not just in Krafton's flagship title, Battlegrounds, which is facing increased monetization fatigue among players but also over the firm’s ability to deliver successful new titles quickly. Many industry observers closely monitor how Krafton will navigate this juncture, especially following expectations for beleaguered sales growth this year.
Krafton’s new publishing agreement for Dinkum, and its ambitious aims to grow the title’s reach, reflect the company's broader strategy to cultivate engaging game development and user-friendly publishing, all amid current market challenges.
With expanded language support, promotional sales, and potential new releases on the horizon, Krafton is positioning itself for the future, aiming to strengthen both brand loyalty and market performance.
This latest venture could prove significant, not just for Dinkum’s continued success, but for Krafton’s standing within the gale-force currents of today's gaming industry, hinting at dynamic growth potential if executed thoughtfully.