RI Games Holdings: WEBTOON acquires 60% stake
What's the deal? Webtoon EntertainmentDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, the parent company of Naver WebtoonDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, has agreed to invest roughly $100 million to secure a 60% stake in game developer Arai Games HoldingsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. The company announced the strategic investment on August 10, 2026, aiming to turn popular webtoon intellectual property (IP) into games.
Who is Arai? Founded in 2022 by Han Taeil, founder of Red Ice StudioDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, the maker of Solo Leveling and Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint — Arai runs two studios, Gray GamesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and OffbeatDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. Its developers previously worked on titles including MapleStory M , Tower of God: New World , and Lineage W .
What's the endgame? Over the next four years, Webtoon plans to develop and release several games based on webtoons with global fanbases, including Temppal , Rebirth of the Martial God , and Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint . First up is an action MMORPG based on Temppal , developed by Gray Games and published by NexonDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, set to launch globally in 2026.
Why now? "Gamifying stories that fans already love is a powerful method to reach new audiences worldwide," said Kim Joon-goo, founder and CEO of Naver Webtoon and Webtoon EntertainmentDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. He added the move would "solidify the success of webtoons as global franchises, expanding beyond animations, TV, films, and publications into games."
The signal: The deal marks Webtoon's push to monetise its content library across formats, betting that established fandoms can carry stories from screen to gameplay. Securing majority control of a studio staffed by veteran developers gives it direct ownership of that pipeline rather than licensing IP out.
Read more: The Chosun Daily
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
