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Photo = Yonhap news |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] HONG KONG / SEOUL – June 12, 2025 — Chinese tech giant Tencent Holdings Ltd. is reportedly considering acquiring South Korean gaming powerhouse Nexon in a deal that could be valued at USD 15 billion (approx. KRW 20 trillion), according to a Bloomberg report citing sources familiar with the matter.
The report claims that Tencent has reached out to the family of the late Nexon founder, Kim Jung-ju, to explore the possibility of acquiring a controlling stake in Nexon as part of its broader strategy to strengthen its gaming division.
While the family is said to be reviewing the proposal, Bloomberg noted that NXC Corp., the holding company of Nexon Group, has yet to clarify its stance on the offer or provide details on how a potential deal might be structured.
Tencent has declined to comment on the report, and representatives for Nexon and NXC have also refused to provide statements.
This is not Tencent’s first interest in Nexon. The company previously considered participating in a 2019 bid for the gaming firm, although it ultimately did not enter the final round.
The news comes shortly after Tencent Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Tencent, acquired a KRW 200 billion stake in SM Entertainment from HYBE, making it the second-largest shareholder of the prominent K-pop label.
If successful, the Nexon deal would mark one of Tencent’s largest international acquisitions in recent years and could reshape the global gaming landscape, subject to regulatory and shareholder approval.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
