As a part of the partnership, Nexon has acquired a minority stake in Boss Key and the exclusive worldwide publishing and marketing rights to BlueStreak, which will be managed through Nexon America. Additional terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“Cliff is one of the most innovative and renowned game designers of our time, and his reputation for creating genre-defining games that inspire a dedicated fan base is well-earned,” said Owen Mahoney, president and chief executive officer, Nexon. “Players across the world have eagerly awaited Cliff’s next move, and we’re delighted to partner with Boss Key to bring the next generation of first-person shooters to market. Cliff shares our unwavering commitment to delivering players the absolute highest-quality game-play experience.”

Bleszinski, best known for his work on shooter titles such as Unreal Tournament and the Gears of War franchise, has been eager to return to his roots and create a “proper” first-person shooter since departing Epic Games in 2012. Founding Boss Key and assembling a world-class team are the first steps towards realizing that goal.

“Creating fun and memorable shooters is in my DNA, and making the move to free-to-play games is all about maximizing the potential audience for your title while embracing where the industry is headed,” said Bleszinski, founder and chief executive officer, Boss Key. “No one knows the free-to-play market better than Nexon, which is why they were the obvious partner to publish BlueStreak. It’s a game and concept I think will really resonate with players who have been clamoring for a new take on an old favorite. After all, I’ve had a year and a half to plan it.”