Arc Raiders
News, coverage and analysis tracking Arc Raiders across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Embark CEO Says 'Some' Arc Raiders AI Voice Lines Were Re-Recorded by Humans Post-Launch: 'There Is a Quality Difference' - IGN
Embark Studios CEO Patrick Söderlund confirmed that some AI-generated voice lines in Arc Raiders have been replaced with human performances post-launch due to a noticeable quality difference. While AI is used as a production tool for testing, Söderlund emphasized that the studio does not aim to replace human actors and that many voice lines were originally recorded by humans who have been compensated.
Marathon Review – Runner’s High
Marathon offers an engaging extraction shooter experience with tight gunplay and a compelling mystery, despite some UI and reward system drawbacks. The game's rogue-like narrative structure and faction-based progression encourage repeated runs, even after significant gear loss. While not for everyone, its unique blend of tactical gameplay and unpredictable encounters makes it a fun, albeit punishing, experience.
Arc Raiders could one day get vehicles, but Embark says no promises: 'We have prototypes from seven years ago'
Embark Studios is considering adding vehicles to their extraction shooter Arc Raiders, though it is not currently in active development. Production director Caio Braga stated that while vehicles are not off the table, they are not a current priority, with prototypes existing from seven years ago.
Arc Raiders once had jump pads and the Snap Hook made you 'like Spider-Man' before its extraction shooter…
Arc Raiders underwent significant changes during development, shifting from a fast-paced, whimsical experience with jump pads to a more tactical PvPvE extraction shooter. Embark production director Caio Braga explained that these changes, including a 60% reduction in speed, were made to foster more strategic gameplay and align with a grounded tone. The Snap Hook mechanic, present since the beginning, was adapted to fit the new gameplay style.
Arc Raiders dev uses clip of FPS streamer Shroud summing up "game dev in a nutshell" to reinforce how Embark "failed" during development: "We really did - twice"
Embark Studios' production director Ciao Braga used a clip of streamer Michael 'Shroud' Grzesiek to illustrate the significant development challenges faced by Arc Raiders, admitting the studio failed with its plans twice. The article highlights how the game's development involved internal debates about its genre and how streamer support, including from Shroud, was crucial for its eventual success.
Arc Raiders' devs didn't expect such a passionate PvE-only crowd
Embark production director Caio Braga discussed how Arc Raiders players have shown a more cooperative PvE-focused behavior than anticipated, contrasting with internal playtests that leaned towards more violent player interactions. The developers noted the surprise of this 'friendly lobby' phenomenon within the extraction genre, where players often prefer to team up against AI enemies.
Embark Studios head Patrick Söderlund explains how Arc Raiders was made on "a quarter of the budget" of a AAA title
Embark Studios CEO Patrick Söderlund explains how the company aims to achieve AAA quality with significantly smaller teams and budgets, challenging conventional development wisdom. He highlights the use of efficient pipelines, procedural generation, and AI as production tools, while also discussing the studio's approach to the extraction shooter genre with Arc Raiders and addressing industry-wide layoffs. Söderlund plans for Embark to have four games on the market within five years without drastically increasing headcount.
Arc Raiders' old machine designs sound so diabolical, it's no wonder they were reworked or removed after poor playtest feedback: 'At that time, they didn't fit with the game very well'
Embark Studios' extraction shooter Arc Raiders underwent significant changes to its machine designs and AI due to poor playtest feedback. Production director Caio Braga discussed how enemies like Hornet, Sentinels, and Fireballs were reworked to be more understandable and balanced, with some original concepts being removed entirely because they did not fit the evolving game vision.
The BAFTA Games Awards 2026 nominees have been announced: here are the front-runners for the most awards, including Clair Obscure: Expedition 33, the game we called 'staggeringly beautiful' and 'wonderfully stylish'
The nominations for the 22nd BAFTA Games Awards 2026 have been announced, with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leading with 12 nominations. Dispatch, Ghost of Yotei, and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach also received multiple nominations. The awards ceremony will take place on April 17, 2026.
The first thing Arc Raiders' devs did during its extraction pivot was to reduce the speed of everything by 60%: 'All the craft that was in the game was kind of background noise'
Embark Studios significantly altered the core gameplay of Arc Raiders by reducing player movement speed by 60%, shifting from a fast-paced boss-killing focus to a more deliberate experience. This change, inspired by their work on The Finals and previous PvP titles, aimed to make player actions more impactful and less like background noise.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 remains on course to match Baldur's Gate 3's GOTY record as it secures GDC win and…
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is on track to replicate Baldur's Gate 3's historic achievement of winning all five major 'Big Five' game awards. The game has already secured a win at the Game Developers Choice Awards and is a contender for the remaining accolades, including the upcoming BAFTA Games Awards.
BAFTA Game Awards 2026 nominations revealed, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leads in nine categories
The nominations for the 2026 BAFTA Game Awards have been revealed, with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leading with 12 nominations, including Best Game. Other notable nominees for Best Game include Dispatch and Ghost of Yōtei. The awards ceremony will take place on April 17, 2026, in London.
Arc Raiders Now Has Fewer AI Voices, As Dev Re-Recorded Lines Amid Controversy
Embark Studios head Patrick Söderlund has confirmed that Arc Raiders now features fewer AI-generated voice lines after some were re-recorded with human actors following controversy. While the studio still uses AI for select purposes and as a production tool, Söderlund stated that professional actors provide a higher quality of performance.
I like Arc Raiders, but Marathon made me fall in love with extraction shooters
The author expresses a fondness for the extraction shooter genre, particularly highlighting Marathon's neon aesthetic and engaging gunplay. While the author likes Arc Raiders, Marathon has solidified their love for the genre.
2026 Game Developers Choice Awards winners announced
The winners for the 2026 Game Developers Choice Awards have been announced. Several titles were recognized across various categories, including Best Audio, Best Debut, Best Design, Innovation Award, Best Narrative, Best Technology, Best Visual Art, Social Impact, and Audience Award. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Blue Prince were among the most nominated games.
Marathon Is Amazing, So Why Does It Already Feel Like It’s in Trouble?
Despite positive reviews and engaging gameplay, Bungie's new extraction shooter Marathon has seen a significant drop in player count since its launch, falling far behind rivals like ARC Raiders. The article explores potential reasons for this decline, including pre-launch issues like delays, plagiarism accusations, and a problematic Server Slam weekend, as well as post-launch friction points such as difficult AI, a confusing UI, and unbalanced contracts.
Arc Raiders devs spent 3 years fighting "on a daily basis" over whether it was "a battle royale," "a hero looter shooter," "a co-op Soul game," or "a co-op Shadow of the Colossus game"
Developers at Embark Studios spent three years internally debating the core genre of Arc Raiders, with discussions ranging from battle royale to a co-op Shadow of the Colossus-like experience. After a significant reset and focusing on its foundation as an extraction shooter, the game has achieved significant commercial success, selling 14 million copies in its first three months.
Full List Of 2026 BAFTA Game Awards Nominees
The nominations for the 2026 BAFTA Game Awards have been announced, recognizing 42 games across various categories. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leads with 12 nominations, followed by Dispatch with nine and Ghost of Yōtei with eight. The awards ceremony will be streamed on the BAFTA YouTube channel on April 17th, 2026.
Highguard Joins the Great Concord in the Sky, Now Officially Delisted on PS5
Highguard has been officially delisted from digital storefronts and is no longer playable as developer Wildlight Entertainment shuts down the game. The free-to-play online multiplayer shooter, from developers who worked on Apex Legends and Titanfall, failed to gain traction and is shutting down just 45 days after its launch. This marks a significant failure for Wildlight Entertainment, which also had to lay off a majority of its staff shortly after Highguard's release due to its lack of success.
Co-op Shadow of the Colossus and hero looter shooter: the genres Arc Raiders devs' thought it was during development
During development, the genre of Arc Raiders was unclear, with team members considering it a battle royale, a co-op Shadow of the Colossus-like game, a hero looter shooter, or even a co-op Souls game. This lack of a defined genre allowed for creative freedom but also led to imbalances. Ultimately, the team reset and focused on the game they had, solidifying it as an extraction shooter.
