Exclusive Interview: Embark's Patrick Söderlund on Arc Raiders' Live-Service Future, Anti-Cheat Measures, and PvE's Winning Formula

Arc Raiders, the second title from developer Embark Studios, has quickly become a global phenomenon in the extraction shooter genre. This sci-fi, third-person PvPvE experience launched in October with a modest $40 price tag and an intriguing concept, rapidly cementing its status as one of 2025's standout releases—with potential to dominate into 2026. A detailed post-launch roadmap now outlines upcoming map expansions and new apocalyptic AI adversaries, putting Embark in the spotlight as players watch to see if the studio can sustain this momentum for the long haul.

We sat down with CEO Patrick Söderlund to dive into Arc Raiders' unexpected triumph, its profound effect on the studio, the ongoing fight against cheaters, planned content updates, and more—including some lighter anecdotes about Italian hotels and unusual trousers—as Embark navigates its first year with a blockbuster success.