Rob Runesson, co-founder and chief commercial officer of Embark Studios, known for developing popular games like Arc Raiders and The Finals, has departed from the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct involving a streamer. An Embark spokesperson stated that Runesson and the company “mutually agreed to part ways” despite an external legal investigation that “did not substantiate” the claims.
The allegations originated from an anonymous individual associated with the streamer, surfacing approximately a month ago and disseminated through Reddit and live streams. The primary claim involved Runesson allegedly pressuring a well-known female streamer for “sexual conversations and favors.” The streamer reportedly felt uncomfortable with Runesson’s advances, particularly concerning the potential conflict of interest, and felt pressured to comply due to her financial dependence on his support for her streaming career. The anonymous accuser stated they had raised concerns about Runesson’s behavior with an Embark community lead.
Following the allegations, IGN’s Rebekah Valentine noted that internal reviews of details regarding the claims revealed that some accusations were presented out of context or could be misleading, according to the streamer involved.
In response to the allegations, Embark released a statement confirming they had been made aware of the claims against Runesson and that they took the matter seriously. An external law firm was hired to conduct a thorough investigation, which ultimately did not validate the allegations. Nonetheless, Embark deemed the situation unsustainable, leading to their decision to part ways with Runesson.
Additionally, IGN reported that Embark Studios is conducting a separate investigation into accusations related to inappropriate behaviors by male esports players towards women in The Finals community. The company has paused its official esports organization and planning efforts during this period of scrutiny. A spokesperson maintained confidence in their decision-making and actions as appropriate and within their responsibilities as a publisher and organizer, indicating a serious commitment to addressing such matters within their community.
