[Nexon]
SEOUL -- Nexon, a South Korean video game company based in Japan, made a strategic investment in Embark Studios, a new game studio founded by Patrick Söderlund, a Swedish video game expert. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Nexon, known for popular games such as MapleStory and Dungeon & Fighter, will serve as worldwide publisher for titles developed by Embark Studios. Söderlund who served as executive vice president in charge of Worldwide Studios at Electronic Arts was nominated to serve on Nexon's board of directors.
Nexon has diversified its business portfolio into blockchain and other technology-related sectors. Embark develops new types of interactive entertainment and simulated virtual online worlds, using streaming, cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
Both Nexon and Embark believe that the next generation of online games will be deeply immersive simulated realities, with persistence and deep consequences for player actions, the two companies said in a joint statement.
"I believe games are on the cusp of changing radically, thanks to new technologies," Söderlund said in the statement. "Connected players, big data, speech recognition, cloud computing, advanced AI and more will open up new play, enabling developers to build a wider range of experiences, and for players to create and contribute."
"Today we sit at a major inflection point, with highly advanced AI technology, dynamic provisioning of computational power from the cloud, and new user interface options now offered by multiple vendors and at consumer-level price points," Nexon CEO Owen Mahoney was quoted as saying.
"What remains scarce is the ability to make deeply engaging online virtual worlds that appeal to a broad global audience that can grow for many years. The formation of Embark represents one of the most exciting developments for the future of online games," Mahoney added.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
