Nexon is looking for new Western studios after Arc Raiders

Nexon has confirmed interest in expanding partnerships with developers from Europe and America. The move comes after the performance of Arc Raiders, from Embark Studios, which has reached 12.4 million copies sold since its release in October; just in early 2026, the title reached 2.4 million units. CEO Junghun Lee described the project as the company's most successful global launch.

Unlike Tencent and NetEase, which have retreated after investments in the West, Nexon claims to focus on selective support due to high labor costs in the region. Regarding the controversy of artificial intelligence - used in voices in the game - Lee defends the technology for efficiency, although he acknowledges the community's resistance.

"I think this is an exciting and incredible opportunity for us"

"The advancement of AI does not mean we want to reduce the number of people developing games"

"User feedback is the number one thing we should definitely consider and reflect on"

Despite undeniable commercial success, Nexon's insistence on using AI and the justification for efficiency to deal with labor costs raise a warning signal about how the company will balance innovation and public acceptance.