Interview: As Arc Raiders Surges, Nexon CEO Eyes the West (and Is Dreaming of Gaming's "Third Wave")
In this interview, Nexon CEO Junghun Lee discusses the unexpected runaway success of Arc Raiders, which has sold over 12.4 million copies and outperformed the company’s own forecasts. He explains how the game’s social dynamics—teamwork, betrayal, and interpersonal drama—have driven its popularity, and shares Nexon’s strategy to expand its presence in Western markets through its Stockholm studio, Embark. Lee also touches on his view that AI is already pervasive in game development and outlines his vision of a forthcoming “third wave” of gaming that will reshape the industry.
Video Game Layoffs Also Look Like This
The episode examines the granular details of recent mass layoffs in the video game industry, focusing on a July 2, 2025 Microsoft cut that eliminated 4% of its global workforce, including 81 gaming roles in a single building. By analyzing...