Embark Studios
Embark Studios business and news from across the web.- ARC Raiders Flashpoint update release countdown: Exact date and timeThe Flashpoint update for ARC Raiders is set to release worldwide on Tuesday, March 31st, with specific times including 3am PT, 6am ET, and 10am UTC. This major content release will introduce new quests, enemies, and player projects, alongside fresh cosmetics, aiming to revitalize the game's player count.
Embark devs playtested Arc Raiders too viciously, so they found a system that let them be Care Bears one day and aggressive the nextEmbark Studios production director Caio Braga revealed that the development team for Arc Raiders played the game very aggressively during internal playtests. To better understand diverse player experiences, Braga implemented a randomizer to dictate his playstyle daily, switching between aggressive, friendly, or quest-focused approaches. This method aimed to ensure the team considered a wider range of player behaviors for the live service shooter.
Arc Raiders devs now force themselves to act nice in playtests to better understand friendly players: "One day I'm playing as a Care Bear, the other day I'm very aggressive"Developers at Embark Studios are adopting a 'Care Bear' mindset during playtests for Arc Raiders to better understand friendly player behavior. Production director Caio Braga revealed that some developers use a randomizer to switch between aggressive and friendly playstyles to ensure balanced testing.- ARC Raiders dev says creating new endgame content is a top priority: ‘I want them to have more to do’Embark Studios production director Caio Braga stated that creating new endgame content for ARC Raiders is a top priority. The team is focused on challenging players who have reached the end of the current content and providing them with more activities. Braga also discussed the ongoing balancing efforts and the learning process of managing a live-service game with a team of around 120 people.
'We want more for them': Arc Raiders' lead dev reassures players that balance and end-game content are a…Embark Studios' production director Caio Braga addressed player concerns regarding Arc Raiders' balance and lack of endgame content. He acknowledged the challenges of balancing PvE and PvP elements and stated the team is focused on delivering impactful updates and more engaging endgame experiences for players.
ARC Raiders Developer Wants Players That Have Done Everything Else to “Have More to Do”Embark Studios production director Caio Braga discussed challenges in keeping players engaged with ARC Raiders, particularly those who have completed existing content. The studio is focusing on impactful updates, game balance, and introducing new challenges to retain players. Nexon also promoted CEO Patrick Söderlund to executive chairman.
As Arc Raiders gets stale for some, lead dev says players "reaching the end of our content" are a top focus:…Embark Studios production director Caio Braga acknowledges that some long-term players are reaching the current content limits of the live service game Arc Raiders. The development team is focusing on addressing player feedback regarding endgame repetition and content longevity ahead of the March 31 Flashpoint update.
Our full chat with Embark: How Arc Raiders was saved mid-development, the balancing process, and the possibility of…Embark Studios production director Caio Braga discussed the development of Arc Raiders, including how the game was significantly reworked mid-development. He highlighted the importance of player feedback and balancing different playstyles, noting that the studio has prototypes for vehicles in the game.- All sponsors in The Finals Season 10The Finals Season 10 has launched, introducing new and returning sponsors to the game's rewards program. While the core sponsorship system remains unchanged, players can earn new rewards through various sponsors like Alfa Acta, Dissun, and Volpe, with some having a long history in the game since its Open Beta or earlier seasons.
- Roadmaps and PlansEmbark Studios is considering how to "escalate" the PvE elements in Arc Raiders due to players' high skill level. Developers teased potential additions like a Shredder escape and large "walking ones" enemies.
Arc Raiders players aren't happy with the Flashpoint update's direction as Embark drops a teaser showing the Shredder escape from Stella Montis: 'Shredders are the new Arc aren’t they'Embark Studios is preparing to launch the Flashpoint update for Arc Raiders on March 31, which will introduce new map conditions and threats, including the migration of Shredders from Stella Montis. However, players are expressing dissatisfaction, concerned that the movement of existing enemies is being presented as new content and that the update may not live up to expectations.- Mysterious Arc Raiders Flashpoint trailer teases an electrifying new enemy that we may have seen beforeEmbark Studios has released a new trailer for the Arc Raiders Flashpoint update, teasing an electrifying new enemy. The brief glimpse suggests this enemy may have been encountered in previous content.
Marathon sells 1.2 million copies across Steam, PS5, and Xbox | News-in-briefThe Nordic Game conference, taking place May 26-29, has announced its speaker lineup, featuring developers from Wishfully, Those Eyes, and Windup Games discussing game design and development. The event will also introduce an inaugural AI Track, with talks from companies like Infinity Fiction and Nunu AI focusing on the role of artificial intelligence in game development, storytelling, and QA. The conference expects over 3,000 attendees in 2026 and will showcase over 100 indie games.
I asked about Arc Raiders' mystery ships and a dev told me the same thing Embark is now teasing online: "I think you'll have to keep an eye on the sky for now"Embark Studios is teasing a new enemy or event for Arc Raiders ahead of the Flashpoint update, hinting at "mystery ships" players have spotted. Production director Caio Braga suggested players "keep an eye on the sky," fueling speculation about a connection to the upcoming update or future content.
What's in the Arc Raiders Flashpoint update and when does it releaseThe Arc Raiders Flashpoint update is scheduled to release on March 31, bringing new content as part of the Escalation expansion. This update includes a new map condition, a new Arc threat, a new player project, and a Scrappy update. Previous updates have typically launched on Tuesdays, aligning with a March 31 release for Flashpoint.
Arc Raiders is a shining beacon of hope in the darkest times of the RAMpocalypse, proving 8 GB budget graphics cards…Arc Raiders is highlighted as a positive example of game optimization, demonstrating that 8GB graphics cards can still offer good performance in modern titles. Despite the industry trend towards higher VRAM requirements, Embark Studios' title maintains excellent performance and visual quality without pushing VRAM limits, offering hope for budget PC gamers.
"Heavyweights ruined the industry... now we live on the indies" Nordic Game embraces smaller devs and games with soulNordic Game program director Jacob Riis believes the industry is currently sustained by independent developers, contrasting them with large studios that he feels have negatively impacted the market. He highlights the focus on creativity and artistic expression in indie games as a response to the profit-driven nature of many AAA titles and live service games. Riis also notes an increase in ticket sales for Nordic Game, suggesting a growing interest in smaller-scale events and developers.
Newly revealed Nordic Game speaker line-up to include Planet of Lana devsThe Nordic Game conference, taking place May 26-29, has announced its speaker lineup, featuring developers from Wishfully (Planet of Lana), Raw Fury, and Those Eyes. The event will also introduce an inaugural AI Track curated by ImmerSynth Inc., with talks focusing on AI's role in game development, publishing, and design. Over 3,000 attendees are expected, with over 100 indie games showcased.
Arc Raiders once had an Arc called The Cylinder of Pain, so I asked Embark about The Cylinder of Pain, and it turns out…Embark Studios discussed early design concepts for its extraction shooter Arc Raiders, including a scrapped enemy called 'The Cylinder of Pain'. Machine learning research lead Martin Singh-Blom explained that while the procedural puzzle elements of the Cylinder of Pain didn't work out, the team is still hesitant to implement bipedal enemies due to balance challenges.
Embark knows Arc Raiders fans are questioning "the size of our weekly patches," but they're not meant to be any bigger: "These updates are focused on smaller quality-of-life improvements"Embark Studios addressed player concerns regarding the size of weekly patches for Arc Raiders, clarifying that these updates are intended for smaller quality-of-life improvements. The latest patch, 1.21.0, includes bug fixes and new cosmetic items, while the larger monthly update, Flashpoint, is scheduled for next week and will feature significant content additions.