Embark Studios CEO Patrick Soderlund has landed a big new role in the ARC Raiders developer’s parent company, newly appointed as Nexon’s executive chairman. The Swedish video game studio has been the talk of the gaming industry since the release of its newest game late last year, with ARC Raiders quickly taking the gaming world by storm. The shooter has already sold more than 12 million copies as of January 2026, even capturing Best Multiplayer Game just over a month after launch at the 2025 Game Awards. Embark Studios also boasts some impressive talent in its ranks behind the scenes.
Patrick Soderlund, while not being the biggest name in the gaming industry, is no stranger to big-name titles and studios throughout his career. Soderlund first joined Electronic Arts in 1996 and stayed with the company for 12 years, serving as everything from chief designer to executive vice president at the company’s Worldwide Studios. Soderlund also served for a stint as the CEO of Battlefield developer DICE before founding Embark Studios months after departing from EA in 2018. Now, Patrick Soderlund is moving up in the ranks, taking on a new executive role with Nexon.
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Nexon Names Embark CEO Patrick Soderlund As Executive Chairman
Nexon has officially appointed Patrick Soderlund as the company’s executive chairman, moving the Embark founder into a role with its parent company. Soderlund will reportedly be in charge of the company’s “long-term strategy and creative directions,” as well as how Nexon “develops games globally” in his new role with the developer and publisher. Soderlund is expected to work as the major creative leader for Nexon alongside current CEO Junghun Lee, while also continuing in his role as the CEO of Embark Studios. In a public statement about the move, Soderlund expressed his excitement to be working in a greater role with Nexon, feeling that the company has “all the assets to unleash dramatic growth.”
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Nexon’s new appointment brings Soderlund’s proven track record with Embark into a greater role in the company after years under its umbrella. Embark Studios was fully acquired by Nexon back in 2021, before the studio had fully confirmed its first game release in The Finals. Soderlund’s role at DICE saw him heading the company through some of its highest peaks during the launch of beloved games like Battlefield 3 and Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit. Soderlund has also proven his keen eye for what it takes to make a game a success, as evidenced by ARC Raiders‘ popularity.
ARC Raiders has been a landslide success for Embark Studios since its debut in late October 2025. Beyond its impressive sales numbers, the developer has continued to push consistent updates for the game nearly every week since its initial launch. ARC Raiders officially launched the Headwinds update in late January, adding the new Solo vs. Squads matchmaking queue alongside a Trophy Display system. The patch also introduced a brand-new Bird City condition for the Buried City with increased quantities of ziplines, Trinkets, and birds found throughout the map, including some exclusive Trinkets.
Embark Studios’ groundbreaking success with ARC Raiders looks primed to continue, as the game has lots more on the way. The upcoming Shrouded Sky update will add a brand-new Hurricane map modifier that will greatly affect the wind speeds and player movement while the condition is active. The Hurricane is also expected to bring some highly valuable loot for players to find within the storm, tasking fans with braving the harsh winds to claim some exclusive rewards for their efforts. Patrick Soderlund’s success with ARC Raiders should bode well with Nexon as the popular extraction shooter grows and evolves with each new patch.
