ARC Raiders January Update 1.13.0: Refined Loot, Smarter AI, and PvPvE Thrills

Embark Studios, a Stockholm-based video game developer founded in November 2018 by industry veterans including Patrick Söderlund (former DICE CEO and Battlefield architect), Magnus Nordin, Rob Runesson, Stefan Strandberg, Jenny Huldschiner, and Johan..., aims to bridge indie innovation with AAA ambition, fostering curiosity-driven breakthroughs in gaming.[1][2][4] Emerging from Sweden's "shooter hub," the studio quickly scaled, hiring over 50 staff by early 2019 and occupying a quirky headquarters to fuel creative energy.[2] From inception, Embark challenged industry stagnation—dominated by safe sequels—by asking "**what if**" to spark surprise and discovery.[1] Early projects teased cooperative sci-fi experiences, evolving into tools empowering non-experts to create via open-source Blender integrations and one-click photogrammetry for game assets.[2][5] Key titles include **THE FINALS**, a "Dynamism Shooter" blending high-octane co-op FPS action with destructible environments, which gained buzz through epic trailers and open betas.[2][5] Its successor, **ARC Raiders**, a PvPvE extraction shooter set in a dystopian Rust Belt, overcame turbulent development to achieve a record-breaking launch on October 30, 2025, following Server Slam tests.[3][5] A pivotal achievement came in 2023 when Nexon acquired Embark, initially met with skepticism but now hailed as a masterstroke; the studio became a "tentpole" for Nexon's live-service expertise (e.g., MapleStory), sharing proprietary tech and talent across portfolios.[3] This partnership amplified ARC Raiders' success, blending Embark's systems-driven tech with Nexon's sustainment prowess.[3] Today, Embark thrives as a Nexon subsidiary, actively supporting **THE FINALS** with events like Steal The Spotlight and Winter Holiday modes, while pre-orders surge for ARC Raiders Delux

**The Game Awards** is an annual live-streamed ceremony celebrating creative and technical excellence in the global video game industry, often dubbed the "Oscars of gaming."[1][2][3] Founded in 2014 by Canadian journalist and producer **Geoff Keighley**, it evolved from the Spike Video Game Awards, which Keighley hosted for over a decade, after he invested about $1 million personally to launch it independently, securing backing from giants like Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, and publishers such as Electronic Arts and Activision.[1][2] The event honors top games, developers, esports, adaptations, and accessibility innovations through categories decided by a jury of over 150 global media outlets (90% voting weight) plus 10% public input via social media and Discord.[1][4] An influential advisory board—featuring leaders from Activision, AMD, Epic Games, Riot Games (formerly Rockstar), Sony, Tencent, Ubisoft, and Valve—guides its mission without influencing winners.[2][3] Beyond awards, it premieres unreleased titles, reveals trailers, and features celebrity guests, musical acts, and Hollywood crossovers, streamed free on 45+ platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Steam to massive audiences.[1][3] Key achievements include explosive growth: from its 2014 debut at Las Vegas' AXIS theater (now at LA's Peacock Theater) to record **85 million livestreams** in a recent year, surpassing prior highs like 50 million in 2019.[2][3] By 2025's 12th edition on December 11, Sony led with 19 nominations, highlighting industry heavyweights.[4] Headquartered in Pacific Palisades, California, with under 25 employees and revenue below $5 million, it punches above its weight as a tech-business powerhouse, blending entertainment, esports, and digital innovation to elevate gaming's cultural status.[3] Today, The Game Awards th