[Weekend Game] Nexon Targets Western Markets with S?derlund at the Helm of "Arc Raiders"

Chairman S?derlund Appointed After Driving Success in Western Markets
Positive Outlook for Nexon's Brand Image Expansion

Patrick S?derlund, CEO of Embark Studios, has been appointed Chairman of Nexon Japan Corporation, following the blockbuster success of "Arc Raiders." Nexon created the previously non-existent chairman position specifically to bring S?derlund on board. By putting the highly recognized Chairman S?derlund at the forefront, Nexon aims to strengthen its expansion in North America and other Western markets.

Patrick S?derlund, Chairman of Nexon Japan Corporation. Photo by Nexon

Embark Studios, the developer of "Arc Raiders," is a subsidiary of Nexon Korea, making it effectively a grandchild company of Nexon Japan Corporation. Nexon Japan Corporation owns 100% of Nexon Korea’s shares. Given this ownership structure, industry experts have called this appointment both bold and unprecedented. This underscores how pivotal the global success of "Arc Raiders" has been in driving this decision.

"Arc Raiders" made waves by surpassing 10 million copies sold in less than two months after its global launch on October 30 last year. After reaching 12.4 million units in early January this year, it exceeded 14 million units this month. The peak concurrent user count reached 960,000. Previously, Nexon announced that thanks to the success of "Arc Raiders," its North America and Europe sales in the fourth quarter of last year surged 364% year-on-year, marking the highest performance in its history.

The game has also received numerous awards. In December last year, it won "Best Multiplayer Game" at The Game Awards, the world’s largest gaming awards ceremony. It was then nominated for "Most Innovative Gameplay" at the 2025 Steam Awards and recently won "Online Game of the Year" at the D.I.C.E. Awards hosted by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) in the United States.

Nexon is known to have provided long-term collaboration and robust development support to Embark Studios as they achieved these results. Their partnership dates back to 2018. After an initial investment, Nexon fully acquired Embark Studios and maintained a development philosophy that prioritized quality and sustainability over short-term achievements. By respecting the developer’s independence and creativity, while combining Nexon’s global publishing and live service expertise, they facilitated the successful launch of new intellectual properties (IP).

Representative image of Arc Raiders. Courtesy of Nexon

Nexon plans to continue its momentum with Chairman S?derlund at the helm. S?derlund, who founded Embark Studios, is a veteran with over 20 years in the gaming industry. He previously served as Executive Vice President at Electronic Arts (EA) and was CEO of Digital Illusions CE (DICE). Before DICE was acquired by EA in 2006, he led the development of several successful franchises, including "Battlefield" and "Mirror's Edge."

Industry insiders expect that Chairman S?derlund’s high global recognition will positively impact Nexon’s brand image in Western markets. One industry source said, "When Chairman S?derlund is mentioned, his title as Chairman of Nexon will be highlighted alongside his role at Embark Studios, naturally boosting Nexon’s publicity. This appears to be a win-win and strategic appointment for both parties."

Chairman S?derlund will oversee Nexon’s long-term strategy, creative direction, global game development, and will work closely with the management team. Having already served on Nexon’s board of directors for more than seven years, it is expected that he is well-versed in the company’s direction. Chairman S?derlund stated, "Nexon has all the assets necessary for explosive growth: talented people, iconic franchises, a strong user community, and industry-leading live service capabilities." He also added, "I have built a consensus for the company’s growth with CEO Lee Jungheon of Nexon."

Lee Jungheon, as CEO and Chairman of Nexon Japan Corporation, will be tasked with executing the strategic direction set by Chairman S?derlund. Lee stated, "I share Chairman S?derlund’s vision for innovation at Nexon. The proven leadership and experience of someone who has assembled top talent and created global hits is exactly what Nexon needs right now." Lee also mentioned that Chairman S?derlund will outline Nexon’s strategic priorities in detail at the Capital Markets Briefing (CMB) to be held on March 31 next month.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.