Tencent exploring $15B Nexon acquisition, a gaming firm with Web3 investments

Tencent Holdings Ltd. is reportedly contemplating an enlargement of its gaming property with a possible deal for Nexon Co. The potential acquisition for $15B is at present within the non-public talks stage.

The worldwide tech conglomerate Tencent Holdings Ltd. is contemplating an acquisition of the gaming firm Nexon Co. Following the information, shares of Nexon rallied by 10%, valuing the corporate at over $15B. Nexon Co traded at over 2,640 JPY, up over 14.4% for the yr thus far.

Nexon Co. continues to be held by its largest proprietor, Kim Jung-ju and his household, proudly owning 44.4% of Nexon via NXS Corp. At this level, non-public talks are underway, with few indications on the willingness to promote the corporate. Tencent is but to finalize the acquisition construction and acquire the settlement of all of Kim’s kinfolk.

Tencent had pursued an acquisition of Nexon in 2019, because the Chinese language firm sought publicity to South Korean gaming and media manufacturing. The corporate just lately acquired a 15% stake in Arrowhead Video games, exhibiting its dedication to a rising gaming portfolio.

Nexon has publicity to Web3 gaming

Nexon was based in South Korea in 1994 and has been public since 2011, with an inventory in Japan. The gaming firm is behind headlines like MapleStory, Crazyracing Kartrider, Sudden Assault, Dungeon & Fighter, and The First Descendant.

Prior to now few years, Nexon additionally supported the Web3 gaming growth, backing MapleStory Universe, Oasys, and CCP Video games. The involvement of Tencent could fortify these video games, as on-chain exercise makes an attempt a revival.

Maple Story Universe used the principle IP of the favored sport to discover a launch on Avalanche in early 2024. The sport was lastly added on-chain on Could 15, beginning its first season in early June.

Avalanche stays a devoted community for Web3 video games, which is now making an attempt to re-grow its affect. Just lately, the platform began talks with FIFA for a brand new on-chain sport.

For the reason that first launch of Maple Story Universe as a Web3 sport, the volumes on Avalanche exploded, with new information set nearly weekly. The sport introduced again each the next depend of lively wallets and the next want for transactions and gasoline.

Avalanche stays an lively venue for on-chain gaming

Just lately, Avalanche reported that Maple Story Universe was behind the elevated on-chain exercise, rising above 1M transactions every day. The Web3 sport additionally launched its personal L1, regardless of the rumors that the Web3 sport would wind down.

@MaplestoryU launched its personal Avalanche L1, powering a tokenized in-game economic system.

Since launch: $4M+ in quantity and over 2.6M NFTs traded.https://t.co/IiI1e1HaOR

— Avalanche🔺 (@avax) June 10, 2025

The sport studies round 5K every day lively customers, and provides hope of a Web3 gaming revival. Through the 2021 bull market, Web3 gaming peaked resulting from excessive token valuations, however then needed to depend on actual sport qualities and constructing to outlive the two-year bear market.

Avalanche saved updating its property and including new video games rather than older titles, just lately turning into one of many extra lively L1 chains.

Regardless of this, Web3 gaming continues to be making an attempt to develop from its lows, even with well-liked gaming IPs. Nexon’s involvement solely gave some publicity to Avalanche, however the chain continues to be preventing for natural adoption whereas deploying options towards farming bots that solely play for gaming rewards.