Nexon Expands Growth Momentum with Global Success of 'Arc Raiders'

Bold Investment and Quality-First Strategy Bear Fruit
Mabinogi Mobile Achieves Success at Game Awards
Accelerating Toward 750 Billion Yen in Annual Revenue by 2027

Nexon is expanding its growth momentum with the global success of its new title, Arc Raiders.

According to Nexon on November 21, Arc Raiders, which launched on October 30, surpassed 4 million cumulative global sales within just two weeks, continuing its expansion in the global gaming market. The game also reached a peak concurrent user count of 700,000 on PC and console platforms.

It is considered unusual that, despite being a new IP sold as a paid package, Arc Raiders has maintained a top position in Steam’s most-played games ranking alongside free-to-play titles such as Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2. The title is also outperforming the latest installment of the popular Battlefield franchise on all major Steam charts.

Industry observers note that this success goes beyond the performance of a single title, demonstrating the fruition of Nexon’s long-term global investment and development support strategy.

Official image of Arc Raiders. Provided by Nexon

Arc Raiders Lowers Entry Barriers and Increases Mass Appeal

One of the key factors behind Arc Raiders’ rapid establishment in the global market was its bold reduction of genre-specific entry barriers and increased accessibility. Traditionally, extraction shooter games involve complex equipment preparation and high initial difficulty, making it hard for new players to get started. Arc Raiders simplified these systems, enabling even beginners to quickly engage with core gameplay elements such as combat, exploration, and extraction.

Notable examples include the “free loadout” system, which provides basic equipment at the start of the game, and “Kkoko,” a companion rooster that automatically collects resources while moving. Industry experts believe these systems have had a positive impact on attracting new users and expanding the player base.

The game’s world-building and visuals have also been cited as key factors in its popularity. Set on a ruined future Earth, Arc Raiders incorporates “cassette futurism,” an aesthetic that reinterprets visions of the future from the 1970s and 1980s, blending analog sensibilities with sci-fi elements to create a unique atmosphere. High-resolution graphics powered by Unreal Engine 5, along with sophisticated sound design and motion direction, further enhance immersion.

Nexon’s Global Investment Pays Off: Swedish Subsidiary Acquisition Bears Fruit

The success of Arc Raiders is closely linked to Nexon’s years-long global investment strategy. Embark Studios, based in Sweden, became a wholly owned subsidiary of Nexon in 2021 after Nexon confirmed its technological capabilities and growth potential through an initial investment in 2018.

Nexon’s acquisition of Embark was a strategic decision that went beyond simply expanding its development workforce. Nexon aimed to internalize Western triple-A game development culture and a next-generation cloud-based development environment, as well as to secure a new large-scale IP that could succeed in the global market.

Nexon has ensured Embark’s independence and autonomy, maintaining a long-term commitment to supporting the studio with both material and human resources, prioritizing quality above all else. The company has provided ongoing support and collaboration in various areas, including development, infrastructure, live planning, and operations, through regular business trips. Embark has also visited Nexon to discuss live infrastructure, and both sides have worked to expand their synergy by participating in the Nexon Developers Conference and G-Star, strengthening ties with Korean developers.

As a result, despite physical distance, Nexon’s publishing capabilities and Embark’s development expertise have combined seamlessly to form a stable and effective partnership. In a recent interview with foreign media, Patrick Soderlund, CEO of Embark Studios, said, “Our parent company Nexon has placed complete trust in us, prioritizing the quality and sustainability of the game over short-term revenue goals. This support structure from Nexon has been a key factor underpinning the success of Arc Raiders.”

Key visual of Mabinogi Mobile. Provided by Nexon

Mabinogi Mobile Also a Success: “Aiming for 750 Billion Yen in Annual Revenue by 2027”

The success of Mabinogi Mobile is also attributed to Nexon’s ongoing development support strategy. In 2020, Nexon spun off its core development team, DevCAT Studio, as a separate entity to strengthen its independence and autonomy, while continuously providing resources needed for the project.

On this foundation, Mabinogi Mobile has established a differentiated content offering and user-friendly structure, building a long-term success model based on steady user metrics since its launch in March. Most recently, the title received the Grand Prize (Presidential Award) at the 2025 Korea Game Awards.

With the consecutive success of these two titles this year, Nexon is further broadening its portfolio and accelerating horizontal growth. The company has set a target of achieving 750 billion yen in annual revenue by 2027.

As Nexon’s major franchises continue their solid upward trajectory, Arc Raiders and Mabinogi Mobile are expected to serve as new growth drivers. MapleStory R, which launched in June, is also contributing to Nexon’s revenue growth by achieving the top sales ranking in both major app markets, leveraging the familiar world and visuals of the original MapleStory IP.

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