Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles.
One app.

Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles. One news app.

The Latest Breaking News from Patrick Söderlund

ARC Raiders dev is making 2 new games fueled by the "financial security" of the extraction shooter's success — "We can live for a long time on the money"

After the colossal success of ARC Raiders, dev Embark Studios has "long-term security," and has two new games in the works that "we hope to finish someday."

Windows Central

Reported Arc Raiders budget of $75 million is "not too far off," says Embark head: "We can live for a long time on the money that Arc Raiders has been generating"

Reported Arc Raiders budget of $75 million is "not too far off," says Embark head: "We can live for a long time on the money that Arc Raiders has been generating"

Arc Raiders didn't cost "hundreds and hundreds of millions"

Arc Raiders had an auction house-style trade system at one point, but Embark removed it because it ruined loot: "It turned the game into just being about coins"

Arc Raiders had an auction house-style trade system at one point, but Embark removed it because it ruined loot: "It turned the game into just being about coins"

But the devs do want to make trading more social and fun

From analysis to the latest developments in health,
read the most diverse news in one place.

inkl

Embark dispels myths about Arc Raiders' aggression-based matchmaking: 'We don't make any value or moral judgments … it's a bit of a blunt instrument'

Embark doesn't want you to feel penalized for choosing violence in Arc Raiders.

Embark's CEO says they couldn't compete 'with the likes of EA and Activision' head on so they had to 'change the way games were being developed'

Where there's a will there's a way.

Embark CEO says Arc Raiders 'should do more with the trading part of the game' and he's right

"We're going to want to do more of that because it's fun."

Embark CEO says 'it would be fun' to have an Arc Raiders TV show or movie after receiving multiple offers, but it's not in the cards right now

But it's probably coming, right?

inkl

Read news from The Economist, FT, and more,
with one subscription

Arc Raider's defining feature, according to Embark's CEO, is all the odd player interactions: 'We did not expect people to take on roles of Defender of the Swamp'

Arc Raider's defining feature, according to Embark's CEO, is all the odd player interactions: 'We did not expect people to take on roles of Defender of the Swamp'

It's the best proximity chat I've encountered in a very long time.

'We don't use AI…to replace people,' claims Arc Raiders CEO, without actually explaining what they do use it for

'We don't use AI…to replace people,' claims Arc Raiders CEO, without actually explaining what they do use it for

Embark isn't abandoning AI any time soon.

"The first dialog we had was obviously centered around [GTA 6]": Arc Raiders devs "did not want to be close" to Rockstar at launch, but were just fine challenging Call of Duty

"The first dialog we had was obviously centered around [GTA 6]": Arc Raiders devs "did not want to be close" to Rockstar at launch, but were just fine challenging Call of Duty

It certainly worked out for Embark

'We did not want to be close to them': The only game Arc Raiders wanted to avoid on release was predictably GTA 6, 'I don't think anyone wanted to be close to them'

'We did not want to be close to them': The only game Arc Raiders wanted to avoid on release was predictably GTA 6, 'I don't think anyone wanted to be close to them'

Embark wasn't as worried about Call of Duty or Battlefield.

Arc Raiders devs were inspired by Helldivers 2 when they shifted from free-to-play to a $40 game: "We don't want the price to be an offender for someone"

Arc Raiders devs were inspired by Helldivers 2 when they shifted from free-to-play to a $40 game: "We don't want the price to be an offender for someone"

"I hope that people, given how much time they seem to spend in the game, feel like we've given them value for money"

'The game isn't about shooting other players': Embark CEO says Arc Raiders is unlikely to get a PvP leaderboard because the devs 'don't necessarily want to foster that kind of gameplay'

'The game isn't about shooting other players': Embark CEO says Arc Raiders is unlikely to get a PvP leaderboard because the devs 'don't necessarily want to foster that kind of gameplay'

You can't have a murder leaderboard without a murder competition.

Embark boss says Arc Raiders $40 price was inspired by the likes of Helldivers 2: 'We'd rather make people feel like it's totally worth 40 bucks'

Embark boss says Arc Raiders $40 price was inspired by the likes of Helldivers 2: 'We'd rather make people feel like it's totally worth 40 bucks'

Embark and Arrowhead have found a multiplayer pricing sweet spot.

Get all your
news in one place.

100’s of premium titles.
One news app.

Huh, Arc Raiders' maps are heavily based on real-world locations: 'Spaceport was actually done in Tenerife'

"The real work is actually making sure the map plays well."

Embark boss says an Arc Raiders movie or TV show would be "fun", but "it needs to be done in the right way": "I can't tell you how many companies have reached out to us"

Embark CEO Patrick Söderland says he's had plenty of offers for an Arc Raiders movie or TV show

Yes, Arc Raiders does matchmake you based on how friendly or aggressive you are

Arc Raiders now matches you with like-minded players based on your proclivity towards PvP or PvE. This is according to developer comments shared during an extended playthrough.

Arc Raiders dev says it uses 'aggression-based matchmaking' to pair bloodthirsty, PvP-minded players with each other

Kill and be killed.

Get all your
news in one place.

100’s of premium titles.
One news app.

Arc Raiders' use of AI highlights the tension and confusion over where machine learning ends and generative AI begins

Embark Studios' contradictory statements about generative AI highlight what's sure to be a long-term industry debate.

Arc Raiders lead knows launching between Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Battlefield 6 is "insanity," but "this is the start of a long journey" and "it needs to start somewhere"

"We have to bring something so that people pay attention"

Tired of making "many, many Battlefield titles," former DICE devs started innovating with upcoming extraction shooter Arc Raiders and help from the past: PS2 classic Shadow of the Colossus

Team Ico had a heavy hand in the Steam-topping game

Former DICE lead says he'll play Battlefield 6 until his new extraction shooter comes out: "And then I will play Arc Raiders instead"

"It looks really good," after all

Arc Raiders lead says games "can't be built by an AI" and "I hope they never can," but also "I want us to build content a hundred times faster" and AI might help with that part

"The human aspect is still essential"

People

Patrick Söderlund

From analysis to the latest developments in health,
read the most diverse news in one place.

inkl

Organisations

inkl

Read news from The Economist, FT, and more,
with one subscription

Places

340,563 stories

Fourteen days free

Download the app

One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.

Download on the AppStore

Get it on Google Play