Game Studio Says AI Won't Replace Workers, Will Speed Up Updates
Embark Studios is not using artificial intelligence to cut jobs or eliminate roles, according to CEO Patrick Söderlund. The studio uses AI to handle repetitive tasks and accelerate game updates while maintaining its human workforce.
Söderlund told GamesBeat that AI serves a specific purpose: efficiency. "We don't use artificial intelligence to not have to hire people or replace people or job groups," he said.
The company continues to contract voice actors for its games, including the free-to-play shooter Arc Raiders. Rather than replacing these workers, Söderlund said AI-generated voices sometimes allow the studio to push updates faster when needed.
How Embark Uses AI in Practice
AI handles monotonous work that would otherwise consume developer time. This frees staff to focus on creative and strategic tasks that require human judgment.
The Finals, another Embark title, receives weekly updates since its launch. Söderlund credited AI tools, staff expertise, and strategic investments in technology for maintaining that pace.
"We couldn't have built the games that we've built or service the games that we've done" without these tools, Söderlund said. He emphasized that human creativity remains central to game development.
What This Means for HR Teams
Embark's approach reflects a broader question facing organizations: how to integrate AI without eliminating positions. The studio's model treats AI as a productivity tool rather than a replacement mechanism.
For HR professionals evaluating AI adoption in your own organizations, this case demonstrates one approach: identify repetitive work, automate it, and reallocate people to higher-value activities. The key difference is intentional workforce planning rather than reactive layoffs.
Arc Raiders achieved Embark's parent company Nexon's highest global launch performance when it debuted in October 2025.
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