Embark Studios, the development house behind the popular titles Arc Raiders and The Finals, has announced that both games are moving beyond the interactive medium and will be transformed into television series and feature films. The initiative is being spearheaded by Chernin Entertainment, the production arm of The North Road Company, which was chosen after a competitive selection process that saw numerous studios vie for the rights to adapt these properties. In its new role, Chernen Entertainment will serve as the lead producer for both the TV adaptations and the cinematic releases, overseeing creative direction, casting, and overall production logistics. The partnership was highlighted by Nexon’s executive chairman as well as Embark’s founder and chief executive officer, Patrick Söderlund, who described the deal as a pivotal milestone in the companies’ broader strategy to evolve their games into "deeply integrated transmedia experiences." Söderlund emphasized that the move is not merely about translating gameplay into visual storytelling, but about building a cohesive universe that can engage fans across multiple platforms, from streaming services to the big screen.
David Ready, who serves as president of film at Chernin Entertainment, echoed this sentiment, calling the two titles "ambitious global IPs with the potential to become major franchises across film and television." Ready pointed out that both Arc Raiders and The Finals possess rich narrative frameworks, distinctive visual styles, and passionate player communities—all ingredients that can translate into compelling episodic and cinematic content. He noted that the company intends to retain the core spirit of the games while expanding the lore, deepening character arcs, and exploring storylines that were only hinted at in the original interactive experiences.
Arc Raiders, which launched in October 2025, quickly became a commercial juggernaut, surpassing 16 million copies sold worldwide. The title earned critical acclaim, capturing the Best Multiplayer Game award at the 2025 Game Awards and repeating the feat at the 2026 BAFTA Games Awards for Best Multiplayer. Its blend of tactical squad-based combat, futuristic settings, and emergent gameplay mechanics gave it a strong narrative backbone that producers believe can be effectively adapted for a serialized format.
The upcoming TV series is expected to delve deeper into the world’s geopolitical tensions, the origins of the elite raiding teams, and the moral ambiguities that players only glimpse during missions. The Finals, a free‑to‑play first‑person shooter, has amassed a staggering 30 million players in just three years since its debut.
Its fast‑paced, arena‑style combat and ever‑shifting environments have cultivated a vibrant esports scene and a dedicated fan base. The film adaptation aims to capture the high‑octane energy of the game while providing a narrative context that explains the origins of the tournament, the personal stakes for its competitors, and the societal impact of a sport that blurs the line between entertainment and warfare. Chernin Entertainment brings a proven track record to the table.
Among its recent successes is the horror‑thriller film Backrooms, which Variety reported grossed over $400 million globally on a modest $10 million budget, demonstrating the company’s ability to turn niche concepts into blockbuster hits. Additionally, the studio produced the Apple TV+ series Chief of War, further showcasing its expertise in delivering high‑quality, serialized content that resonates with both niche audiences and mainstream viewers. The move to adapt Arc Raiders and The Finals follows a broader industry trend of converting video game intellectual property into screen media. Recent examples include the Resident Evil franchise, whose latest cinematic installment achieved the highest critical rating ever recorded for a video‑game‑based film, and the animated series Arcane, based on League of Legends, which secured a flawless 100 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes for its second season.
These successes have encouraged studios to view games not just as source material but as expansive universes ripe for storytelling across multiple formats. Industry analysts predict that the synergy between interactive and linear media will only deepen as developers design games with transmedia potential in mind.
By integrating narrative hooks, character development, and world‑building elements that can stand alone outside of gameplay, studios can create a pipeline that feeds both gamers and viewers. For Arc Raiders and The Finals, this approach promises to broaden their audiences, attract new fans who may first encounter the stories on a streaming platform or in a theater, and ultimately drive additional engagement with the original games. In summary, the collaboration between Embark Studios and Chernin Entertainment marks a significant step toward turning two of the most successful recent video game franchises into fully realized television and film properties. With seasoned producers, a clear vision for expanding the games’ lore, and a market that is increasingly receptive to high‑quality gaming adaptations, both Arc Raiders and The Finals are poised to become landmark examples of successful transmedia storytelling.