How Delabs’ CEO Joonmo Kwon expects Ragnarok Libre and DELABS token launch to supercharge growth

One of the most active companies in web3 gaming over the past couple of years, South Korean developer Delabs has learned from its experiences, pivoting to midcore games on social channels such as Telegram and LINE.

As CEO Joonmo Kwon explains, it now expects the launch of new game Ragnarok Libre combined with its DELABS token TGE will supercharge the company’s growth in the second half of 2025.

How is 2025 shaping up for Delabs Games so far?

Joonmo Kwon: 2025 is shaping up to be a defining year for us. The past years in web3 gaming has built us up for the moment of this year. We’ve made strategic adjustments and pivots, grounded in hard-earned market insights. Our current focus, to build midcore games on social platforms, is taking off as we launched Boxing Star X earlier this year and as we expect another big wave to take off with Ragnarok Libre.

The web3 gaming space has seen countless projects come and go over the last few years, many of which struggled to achieve sustainability. User acquisition was expensive. Converting web2 users into onchain users proved more difficult than most expected. We recognized early on that to build something lasting, we needed a different approach.

So we shifted toward building games inside messenger-based mega apps like LINE and Telegram – platforms with built-in distribution, familiarity, and real network effects as well as native web3 integration. This allowed us to solve the user acquisition and conversion challenge in a way most web3 games couldn’t. The February launch of Boxing Star X validated that thesis. With a leaner PVP core and a sticky social loop, the game performed well both in terms of user engagement and revenue. We’re building games that make real revenue and bring valuable engagement to our users, and we will continue to do so.

So far, this year feels like the moment when all the groundwork of the past 2-3 years, from testing, iterating, exploring the web3 landscape has started coming to fruition. And we’re just getting started.

You’ve been preparing the DELABS token launch for over a year – where are you up to with that?

Over the past year, we’ve focused not just on preparing a token but preparing an ecosystem that the token can actually power.

The $DELABS token is launching this summer, and what makes this timing special is that it coincides with the upcoming launch of Ragnarok Libre, a major IP-driven idle RPG. We expect Ragnarok Libre is going to bring a completely new wave of users into our platform. Most projects launch a token first and then scramble to create utility afterward.

We’ve flipped that: we’re launching $DELABS into a live, working economy.

We have strong expectations here, not just because of the game design, but because of how we’re integrating token utility into actual gameplay loops. We believe revenue potential should be the foundation, and the token should amplify not replace that foundation. With Boxing Star X already live, and Ragnarok Libre coming in right after TGE, we’re entering a unique flywheel moment for the ecosystem.

What are your expectations for Ragnarok Libre’s upcoming launch?

We’re incredibly excited for this launch. Ragnarok Libre is our flagship midcore title for 2025, powered by one of the most beloved global gaming IPs.

We’ve seen firsthand how powerful IP can be when executed well. And as someone who’s worked with various powerhouse IPs in the past, I can say with confidence that this is the kind of game that taps into nostalgia while catering to contemporary gamers’ needs and introducing a fresh economic model.

We also see Ragnarok Libre as the highlight of our midcore gaming strategy, targeting mobile-first users on messaging apps to bring the next big wave for gaming on web3 enabled social platforms. It’s coming at the right time, right after our TGE, and we expect it to generate strong engagement and demand for the $DELABS token.

Can you tell us more about the game’s token and marketplace integration?

We’ve designed Ragnarok Libre to be fully integrated into the broader Delabs platform economy. That means there’s no separate token – it runs on $DELABS. This allows us to consolidate liquidity and build network effects across all our games.

Players will be able to craft and upgrade assets in-game, and those assets will eventually be tradable on an in-game marketplace. The basis currency for the game asset marketplace will be a currency called ZENY. This ZENY will be tradeable via the $DELABS token.

This type of multi-layered open economy enables both ease of trading, but creates demand for the $DELABS token, with it being the main medium of exchange for the most important currency of the game.

How do you think the launch of MapleStory Universe has been received by its core Korean audience?

We see it as a successful and important milestone for the entire web3 gaming space.

For years, the industry has talked about what it would look like when a major traditional publisher brings web3 to life through real IP. MapleStory Universe marks one moment in this progression. It’s one of the first credible steps toward making web3 gaming mainstream not with hype, but with actual gameplay, systems, and a long-term roadmap.

Of course, as with any innovation, there’s going to be noise and mixed feedback. But the fact that Nexon, a leader in Korean gaming, has committed to this path gives the entire market confidence. And from where we stand, the early signals from community engagement to token traction are very promising.

As someone who previously led Nexon, I understand both the strengths and limitations of large publishers. That’s why we built Delabs to be nimble, experimental, and web-native from day one.

MapleStory Universe lit the spark. Now builders like us are here to turn it into something unstoppable.

Finally, what web3 game market trends do you see surfacing in H2 2025 and beyond?

The market is maturing quickly. The hype cycles are behind us, and what’s emerging now is a more grounded era of web3 gaming focused on sustainable gameplay and real ecosystems.

At Delabs, we’ve built our company around that evolution. Every product cycle, every title, we’ve tested, pivoted, and proven that we’re not stuck on a fixed playbook – we adjust quickly, and we back up our thesis with results. From shifting to messenger-based midcore games to launching titles with real monetization before tokenization, we’ve consistently adapted to what works, not just what’s trendy.

Looking ahead, one of the biggest areas we’re exploring is AI-powered gaming. We’re in deep discussions with AI game engine partners, and we believe AI will change not just how games are developed, but how they’re experienced. We think the future belongs to builders who can integrate four core pillars: crypto, AI, strong IP, and real gameplay. That’s the foundation we’re building toward. And we’ll keep evolving until we get there.

Korea, as well, is becoming an ideal launchpad for this. With the new government pushing forward policies like the Digital Asset Basic Act, a KRW-based stablecoin, legalized ETFs, and institutional crypto access, Korea is poised to become the crypto capital of Asia. As a Korean-founded company, we see this as a generational opportunity to help define the next era of interactive entertainment.

Find out more at the Delabs’ website.