ARC Raiders Becomes Nexon's Most Successful Global Launch to Date

South Korean game developer and publisher Nexon Co., Ltd. announced that ARC Raiders, the sci-fi extraction shooter developed by Stockholm-based Embark Studios AB, has surpassed 4M copies sold within two weeks of launch. Lee Jeong-hun, the CEO of Nexon, congratulated Embark Studios “for achieving the most successful global launch in Nexon's history.”

The title, blending team-based survival gameplay with exploration and cooperative objectives, was launched on Oct. 30, shortly after the record-breaking launch of Battlefield 6. Despite the timing, it peaked at 264,673 concurrent players on its release day on Steam, making it one of the most successful extraction shooters launched on Valve's platform.

ARC Raiders Marks a Breakthrough for Premium Shooters 

The publisher said the ARC Raiders launch exceeded all expectations, and became Nexon’s fastest-selling premium title to date. In the first week, it sold over 2.5M copies, generating a strong response among players. Surprisingly, it retained the success in the second week and crossed the 4M mark. The game also retained its number one spot on Steam's "Top Global Sellers" list since its release.

On Nov. 11, Nexon confirmed with a press release that the title reached over 700,000 concurrent players across PC, PlayStation 5, Steam, and Xbox platforms. According to Valve, the game achieved a concurrent peak of 462,488 players on Steam alone. 

Due to the strong response, the developer is building their new content plan. Embark introduced new map conditions, including an electromagnetic storm in Blue Gate, Spaceport, and Dam Battlegrounds, as well as a night raid in Blue Gate. Lee Jeong-hun announced that the new maps, along with ARC vehicles, weapons, and quests, will be available from November. 

In a market where success frequently rests on famed franchise and free-to-play entry methods, the game's performance is especially noteworthy due to its premium-only pricing ranging from $39.99 to $59.99. The strong response also highlights a growing appetite for new IPs that balance accessible gameplay with long-tail engagement loops.