ARC Raiders Lead Says Players Can Step Away Between Updates
Executive producer Aleksander Grøndal says players can finish content faster than Embark can produce it, and breaks are part of the live-service cycle.

ARC Raiders executive producer Aleksander Grøndal says content gaps are a normal part of a live-service game, not a reason to keep waiting for the next release. In a GamesRadar interview, he encouraged Raiders who have run out of things to do to “take a break and play some other games.”
Players can finish new content sooner than Embark can prepare its next release, Grøndal said. The studio still wants to keep regular players interested and give new arrivals fresh reasons to join, but he sees no need for people to stay committed between updates. Taking time for other games and returning after a few releases, he argued, can be good for players and the wider industry.
Grøndal described following that pattern himself with Valheim. After playing it extensively at launch, he returned for its 1.0 release nearly four years later.
Embark moved away from monthly updates in May 2026 and began working toward two major releases a year. The next one, Frozen Trail, is scheduled for October 8 and will bring a new snowy map and expanded progression. Grøndal hopes larger releases like this give players a reason to return without making constant play feel like a requirement.
What makes you want to return to a live-service game after taking a break? Keep up with Frozen Trail’s October 8 launch and its new map and progression features on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.
ARC Raiders
Developed by Embark Studios






