Filled to the brim with former Battlefield veterans, Embark Studios wasn’t going to make a shooter, as the staff have done that before. But, following multiple internal game jams and pitches, the one that seemed to stick was a shooter, one that evolved into something quite unique.
In an interview with Game Informer on YouTube (via GamesRadar) days before The Game Awards revealed the stealth drop of The Finals, Creative Director Gustav Tilleby spoke about the early days of the project. After hammering in on making a shooter, Embark decided it had to be unique compared to the dozens of other shooters not just made by staffers on the team, but its competition, too. The end result was a game which the team seeped in a lot of player agency and the ability to “overcome the odds on their terms.”
The developer is playing it safe, not making promises it can’t keep, shelving the idea of sharing a roadmap in case things go sour, and offering new content consistently. Considering this team isn’t beholden to a parent, this small studio of veterans will hopefully continue to provide a top-notch shooter for years to come.
