ARC Raiders bosses double down on using AI in game dev: ‘More time innovating; less time writing code’

ARC Raiders dev Embark Studios and its owner Nexon won’t be saying goodbye to using AI tools in game dev any time soon. Far from it.

In a Capital Markets Briefing slideshow presentation from Nexon released yesterday, the minds behind the massively successful ARC Raiders and The Finals are fully embracing using AI in game development. Why? Because money, of course. And Nexon says it will be the best and most efficient at using AI along the way.

“Every company has a plan; most will get it wrong,” said Embark CEO and Nexon executive chairman Patrick Söderlund in the presentation. “They’re committing big, investments in tools – but tools won’t help because they’ve misread the challenge. AI may be a race, but the winners won’t be the first movers – the winners will be the ones who understood the challenge. Think of game development as auto mechanics. The tools are available to everyone, but not everyone has the knowledge and experience to use them.”

The slideshow, spotted by GamesRadar, is addressed to shareholders in Nexon. So, in the end, it’s all about how the company can be efficient and profitable, but that’s nothing new, according to Nexon president and CEO Junghun Lee.

“Nexon has used AI tools for some time and we’re quickly moving past the tool level – to applying context to everything we do,” Lee said.

The presentation states Nexon will be using an AI initiative called Mono Lake, which “makes the intelligence available across everything we build and operate – every developer, every live ops team, every product decision has access to the base of information we’ve accumulated over decades.”

And with this, the powers of AI will be used as tools by devs to help create games efficiently and quickly, according to Nexon. But within the presentation, Lee had a very unique way of describe the hit extraction shooter that found wide appeal at the end of 2025 while also getting heat for using AI voices instead of voice actors.

“Beyond the breakaway commercial success, ARC Raiders is a Trojan Horse – a gift that contains a
shift in the mindset about how technology frees developers and live service teams to spend more time thinking and less time typing,” Lee said. “More time innovating; less time writing code. It changes how people work. The tools they use, how fast they can move, what they can accomplish.”

In attempts to assuage worries about AI replacing actual devs, however, Lee was quick to point out that “what goes into our games – the creative content our players actually experience – […] remains the work of our developers.”

“Our methodology doesn’t replace creative people, it frees them to create, with context,” Lee said. And yet, in the very same presentation, former EA executive Söderlund boasted about ARC Raiders and The Finals as “two games, built with significantly fewer people, at a fraction of the cost you’d expect for a AAA game.”

Fewer people, but more AI, is the message they’re going with for those who hold shares in the company, I guess. Take from that what you will.

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The Assessor Matrix is a new crafting material that you can find in ARC Raiders as part of the Flashpoint update. This material can only be found during a specific map condition, and you’ll need it for different reasons.

First, let’s find out how you can obtain the material.

How to get the Assessor Matrix in ARC Raiders

To find the Assessor Matrix, you’ll need to wait for the Close Scrutiny event. While this event only appears during a certain time of day, it can be active on any of the available maps (except Stella Montis).

When this map condition is active, ARC Assessors will spawn on the map at random locations. To get the Assessor Matrix, you’ll need to loot the dropships. However, this is easier said than done. Once you’re near one, look at the sky to spot three red beams.

Every Assessor has three containers for you to breach and search for loot. Enemies will guard these containers, so you’ll need to be careful. Once you’re near the ship, wait for the platform to show up. Use the platform to climb up and search the containers. If you’re in a group, any two of you should keep the ARCs distracted.

If you’re lucky, you should be able to find the Assessor Matrix in the containers. You could even obtain the blueprint for the Dolabra, which is a new shotgun.

As you might have found out in the first 24 hours since the Flashpoint update, it’s not easy to loot an Assessor. Here are a few tips and tricks that have worked well for me.

• Use a Photoelectric Cloak. Using it is tricky, as you can’t use a gun, so it’s pretty easy to get targeted by other raiders. However, this device will complete mask your presence and hide you from every ARC enemy in the vicinity. It’s a great device to use if you want to loot without getting stuck in a fight.
• Smoke Grenades are a must as you’ll want to hide your location from other raiders. You can use it to quickly loot the containers and escape without getting shot by other players/ARCs.
• Having your buddies will be helpful, as will be heavy hitters like the Hullcrackers. Since the Assessor can also have Vaporizers nearby, bring a Wolfpack or two to melt them in seconds.

How to use the Assessor Matrix in ARC Raiders

So far, the Assessor Matrix appears to be required for completing the stages of the recent High-Gain Antenna player project. This project has three different stages, and you’ll need the Assessor Matrix to complete the tasks of the second and third stages.

It’s definitely worth taking the extra risk to collect the Assessor Matrix when the Close Scrutiny event is active.

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