The cooperative survival shooter Arc Raiders has been named Nordic Game of the Year at the 2026 Nordic Game Awards. The ceremony took place on May 28 at the Nordic Game conference in Malmö, Sweden.
Developed by Stockholm based studio Embark Studios, Arc Raiders was recognized for its design and execution in the competitive multiplayer genre. The award is one of the highest honors in the Nordic video game industry, which includes developers from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland.
Background on the Award and Event
The Nordic Game Awards are presented annually as part of the Nordic Game conference, a major gathering for game developers and publishers in the region. The awards celebrate creative and technical achievements in video game development across all Nordic countries.
Arc Raiders competed against other notable titles released during the eligibility period. The game distinguishes itself by blending player versus environment combat with extraction based survival mechanics. Players must cooperate to defend against an alien threat while competing for resources.
Reactions and Industry Context
Embark Studios was founded by former executives from DICE, the developer behind the Battlefield series. The studio has positioned Arc Raiders as a premium free to play title. While specific commercial performance data was not disclosed at the awards ceremony, the recognition signals strong critical reception within the Nordic development community.
The win also highlights the continued strength of the Swedish game development sector, which has produced globally recognized franchises such as Minecraft, Candy Crush, and Battlefield. Swedish studios accounted for a significant portion of the nominees across multiple categories at this year’s awards.
Implications for the Development Pipeline
Arc Raiders remains in active development with regular content updates planned by Embark Studios. The award may influence consumer awareness and adoption rates, particularly in markets where competitive extraction shooters are popular.
The game is available on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. Console versions have been announced but no specific release date has been confirmed by the publisher. Embark Studios has stated that cross platform play is a priority for the full launch.
The Nordic Game Awards also recognized achievements in categories including Best Art, Best Audio, and Best Game Design. The Best Debut category was awarded to an independent title from a first time developer, underscoring the region’s support for emerging talent.
Industry analysts have noted that Arc Raiders represents a shift in the extraction shooter genre, traditionally dominated by military themed titles. The sci-fi setting and cooperative emphasis may broaden the game’s appeal beyond core competitive shooter audiences.
Embark Studios has not announced specific sales or player count milestones publicly. However, the award may accelerate publishing partnerships and investment interest in the Stockholm based developer. The studio is also reportedly working on additional unannounced projects.
The 2026 Nordic Game conference concluded with a record attendance of over 3,000 registered participants, including developers, publishers, investors, and press. Conference organizers confirmed that the 2027 event will return to Malmö with expanded programming focused on artificial intelligence and procedural generation technologies.
Arc Raiders is expected to receive a major content update in the third quarter of 2026, according to information shared during a developer panel at the conference. Further details regarding that update have not been released.
Source: GamesIndustry.biz
