THE FINALS
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Arc Raiders studio splits with co-founder over 'unsustainable' situation involving streamer allegations
Embark Studios has parted ways with co-founder Rob Runesson following allegations of sexual misconduct involving a streamer. While an internal investigation did not substantiate the claim, the studio cited the situation as 'unsustainable.' The allegations were initially shared anonymously and later publicized by streamer Balise.
Issues and Activism
Embark Studios, the developer behind Arc Raiders and The Finals, has parted ways with a co-founder following allegations of misconduct. The studio has not provided specific details regarding the nature of the allegations or the co-founder's departure.
Embark "mutually parts ways" with co-founder Rob Runesson following sexual misconduct allegations
Embark Studios has mutually parted ways with co-founder Rob Runesson following allegations of sexual misconduct. While an external investigation did not substantiate the claims, the studio deemed the situation unsustainable. The allegations reportedly involve a female streamer of The Finals, who expressed discomfort with Runesson's advances and concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
Arc Raiders dev Embark Studios confirms co-founder is gone after allegations of misconduct with The Finals streamer: "We found the situation unsustainable and mutually agreed to part ways"
Embark Studios, the developer of Arc Raiders and The Finals, has confirmed that co-founder and Chief Creative Officer Rob Runesson has departed the company following allegations of misconduct with a The Finals streamer. While an external investigation did not substantiate the claims, the studio deemed the situation unsustainable and mutually agreed to his departure.
New Arc Raiders Patch Finally Takes Aim at the Il Toro to Make it Feel 'More Like a Weapon of Its Rarity' - IGN
Embark Studios has released Arc Raiders update 1.20.0, which includes balance adjustments for the Il Toro shotgun and a reduction in the sell price of energy clips. The update aims to make the Il Toro feel more appropriate for its rarity and to rebalance in-game economy. The patch is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Arc Raiders, The Finals Dev Embark Studios Parts Ways With Co-founder Following Misconduct Allegations - IGN
Embark Studios, the developer of Arc Raiders and The Finals, has parted ways with co-founder Rob Runesson following allegations of sexual misconduct. An external investigation did not substantiate the claims, but the studio deemed the situation unsustainable. The allegations arose from a streamer who claimed Runesson requested sexual favors and conversations, leading to her discomfort due to financial dependence on his promotions.
Arc Raiders Dev Co-Founder Leaves Embark Studios After Sexual Misconduct Accusations
Embark Studios co-founder Rob Runesson has departed the company following allegations of sexual misconduct towards a streamer. While an external investigation did not substantiate the claims, Embark and Runesson mutually agreed to part ways due to the unsustainable situation. Runesson previously worked at EA/DICE on the Battlefield franchise.
PS4 Update 13.50 Quietly Rolled Out as Support Winds Down
Sony has released system software update 13.50 for the PlayStation 4, indicating a winding down of support for the console. This update, released alongside a PlayStation 5 firmware update, includes minor usability improvements. Support for features like Tournaments and Teams has already been removed, and major games are ending their PS4 versions, suggesting this may be one of the last updates for the console.
Highguard just died and we are already being bombarded with another hero shooter being compared to Concord
The hero shooter genre is facing intense player scrutiny, with games like Highguard shutting down shortly after release due to negative reception and comparisons to Concord. New titles like Time Takers are also facing early criticism, with players quickly forming opinions based on trailers and early gameplay, impacting their potential success.
ARC Raiders replacing some AI voices, CEO says "a real professional actor is better than AI"
Embark Studios is replacing some generative AI voices in ARC Raiders with those of professional actors, according to CEO Patrick Söderlund. While AI will remain a production tool for testing lines, Söderlund stated that human actors provide a superior quality and emotional depth. The studio also uses a similar approach for announcer voice-overs in their other game, THE FINALS.
These 12 Major PS5, PS4 Games Will Be Delisted in March and April
Several major PlayStation titles, including Firewall Ultra, The Finals, and Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection, are being delisted from the PlayStation Store or will have their online services disabled in March and April. Some games will remain playable offline, while others will be completely removed. Sony has confirmed that progress for The Finals and Genshin Impact will transfer to PlayStation 5.
These 10 Major PS5, PS4 Games Will Be Delisted in March and April
Several PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 games are being delisted from the PlayStation Store or having their online services disabled in March and April. Titles like Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection will be removed entirely, while others such as The Finals and Genshin Impact will see their online components shut down, though progress may transfer to PS5 versions.
Embark CEO says 'a real professional actor is better than AI' after the studio re-records some Arc Raiders…
Embark CEO Patrick Söderlund stated that professional actors are superior to AI voices, leading the studio to re-record some lines in Arc Raiders post-launch. While the use of AI for voice work is being reduced, Embark will continue to utilize AI for its time-saving benefits in development.
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.
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 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.
ShatterRush: A New Parkour FPS Combining Elements of Titanfall and The Finals - GameHaunt
ShatterRush, a new parkour-focused multiplayer shooter with mech combat from Tetra Studios, is slated for a Q3 2026 release on PC via Steam. The game features 16-player matches, full map destruction, and split-screen support. An Open Pre-Alpha is currently available for players to try.
The Finals Gets Lucky with Store Update 9.13.0 and Luck N’ Loaded Theme
The Finals has released Store Update 9.13.0, introducing the "Luck N’ Loaded" theme with rainbow-colored cosmetics and lucky charms. This update coincides with the ongoing Sponsor Showdown event, aiming to provide players with a psychological edge and enhance their competitive mindset. The developers are leaning into superstition and fun themes to differentiate the game in the arena shooter genre.
No one at Embark could describe Arc Raiders before its extraction shooter pivot, leading to 'playtest battles' of competing directions for the game
Embark Studios' extraction shooter Arc Raiders underwent significant development pivots, moving away from its initial PvE concepts due to a lack of clear direction. Production director Caio Braga detailed how internal playtest battles and conflicting visions led to the game's eventual focus on the extraction shooter genre, leveraging the studio's experience with The Finals.
THE FINALS Developers Show How to Handle Privacy Scares the Right Way
Embark Studios addressed a privacy scare in THE FINALS by releasing a hotfix for an issue where Discord's SDK logged excessive user information. The developer communicated the problem and its resolution directly to players, emphasizing that no private data was collected or shared by Embark. This transparent approach is highlighted as a positive example of building player trust in the gaming industry.