"Ultimately, we asked 'why are we doing this?'": the creators of Arc Raiders wildly underestimated how hard it is to make a live service game

Embark Studios executive producer Aleksander Grøndal acknowledged that the studio underestimated the challenges of operating *Arc Raiders* as a live service game, with the team struggling to meet monthly update targets. The initial post-launch period proved far more demanding than anticipated, leaving developers exhausted and questioning the sustainability of the approach. Grøndal described the transition as unexpectedly difficult, despite prior warnings from peers in the industry.

The team’s workload became unsustainable, with constant demands to fix bugs, address exploits, and deliver content rapidly while maintaining quality. Grøndal admitted the studio was repeatedly exceeding its capacity, making long-term planning nearly impossible under the original model. The financial and operational strain of maintaining the game’s live service component further compounded the challenges.

In May, Embark announced a shift to biannual updates, abandoning the monthly schedule to focus on larger, more polished content drops. Grøndal explained that this change allowed the team to return to pre-launch development practices, emphasizing higher-quality output and sustainable iteration. The decision followed internal reflection on whether the original approach was sustainable or even beneficial.

Grøndal, a 15-year veteran of Electronic Arts, shared his own experiences with burnout, including a five-month sick leave after overworking on a *Battlefield* title. He emphasized the human cost of unsustainable development cycles, noting the loss of skilled team members due to prolonged stress. Despite the challenges, Grøndal expressed pride in the team’s adaptability and commitment to improving the game’s long-term health.