Nexon Restructures Khazan Team After Disappointing Sales Performance

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The First Berserker: Khazan, a 2025 action RPG developed by Neople and published by Nexon, has delivered a mixed outcome following its release in late March. While the game earned generally positive reviews for its challenging, Soulslike-inspired combat and strong character presentation, it ultimately failed to meet Nexon’s internal sales expectations.

According to Nexon’s first-quarter earnings report, revenue generated during the launch window fell short of projections. Despite this, company executives emphasized that the game succeeded in introducing the Dungeon & Fighter universe to a broader international audience, framing it as a strategic investment rather than a purely commercial one.

In response to the underwhelming financial performance, Nexon has reportedly moved to restructure the development team at Neople responsible for Khazan, reallocating resources and effectively disbanding much of the group behind the project. While details remain limited, the decision appears to be tied directly to the game’s commercial results rather than its creative reception.

Earlier in 2025, Neople employees engaged in an indefinite strike over disputes related to bonus allocations, arguing that compensation did not reflect the company’s financial success. Although the dispute was eventually resolved with concessions on pay and benefits, the restructuring tied to Khazan has raised further concerns about workforce stability.

Meanwhile, Nexon continues to push forward with its long-term plans for the franchise, with additional projects such as Project OVERKILL and Dungeon & Fighter: ARAD reportedly in development and targeting release by 2027.