Embark Studios’ two flagship titles, Arc Raiders and The Finals, are slated to make the leap from interactive entertainment to the screen, with both a television series and a feature‑film version in development. The announcement, reported by Variety, confirms that Chernin Entertainment—the film and television arm of The North Road Company—has been chosen from a competitive field of studios to helm the adaptations. As the designated lead producer, Chernin will oversee the creative and logistical aspects of both the small‑screen series and the big‑screen movies, ensuring that the core essence of each game is preserved while translating the experience for a broader audience. Patrick Söderlund, the executive chairman of Nexon and the founder‑CEO of Embark Studios, framed the deal as a pivotal moment in the companies’ shared ambition to evolve their games into "deeply integrated transmedia experiences." In other words, the goal is to build ecosystems where the narrative, characters, and world‑building extend seamlessly across gaming, television, and cinema, offering fans multiple entry points into the storylines.
David Ready, who serves as president of film at Chernin Entertainment, echoed this sentiment, describing the two titles as "ambitious global IPs with the potential to become major franchises across film and television." His remarks underscore the belief that both Arc Raiders and The Finals possess the narrative depth, visual flair, and fan base necessary to sustain multi‑platform storytelling. Arc Raiders, which launched in October 2025, quickly became a commercial juggernaut, moving more than 16 million copies worldwide. The game’s success was recognized at several prestigious award ceremonies: it captured the Best Multiplayer Game award at the 2025 Game Awards and repeated the feat at the 2026 BAFTA Games Awards. Its blend of high‑octane action, cooperative gameplay, and a richly detailed sci‑fi universe has resonated with players and critics alike, making it a prime candidate for adaptation.
The television series is expected to delve deeper into the backstory of the game's diverse cast of space‑faring mercenaries, exploring the political intrigue and personal motivations that drive the interstellar conflict depicted in the game. Meanwhile, the film adaptation aims to condense the most cinematic moments into a two‑hour narrative that can serve both newcomers and seasoned fans.
The Finals, a free‑to‑play first‑person shooter, has also amassed an impressive following, logging over 30 million players in just three years since its release. Its emphasis on fast‑paced, arena‑style combat and a constantly evolving meta has cultivated a vibrant community and a strong e‑sports presence. Translating this kinetic experience to screen presents unique challenges, but also exciting opportunities.
The upcoming TV series plans to focus on the lives of the elite competitors, the behind‑the‑scenes drama of the tournament organizers, and the technological marvels that power the game's ever‑shifting battlegrounds. The film, on the other hand, will likely center on a high‑stakes championship match, using the intense, visceral action that defines the game to create a blockbuster‑style spectacle. Chernin Entertainment brings a proven track record to the table.
Among its recent successes is the horror‑thriller Backrooms, which Variety reported grossed more than $400 million worldwide on a modest $10 million budget—a testament to the company’s ability to stretch limited resources into massive returns. Additionally, the studio produced the Apple TV+ series Chief of War, further demonstrating its capacity to deliver high‑quality content across different platforms. These credentials suggest that Chernin is well‑positioned to navigate the complexities of adapting interactive properties while maintaining commercial viability. The move follows a broader industry trend of turning video‑game intellectual property into mainstream entertainment.
Recent adaptations have shown that with the right creative vision, games can translate into critically acclaimed and financially successful films and series. For instance, the latest Resident Evil movie set a new benchmark as the highest‑rated video‑game film adaptation to date, while the second season of Arcane—Netflix’s animated series based on League of Legends—holds a flawless 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. These examples illustrate that audiences are increasingly receptive to well‑crafted narratives that originate in the gaming world. In summary, the partnership between Chernin Entertainment and Embark Studios signals a strategic push to expand the reach of Arc Raiders and The Finals beyond the console and PC.
By leveraging Chernin’s production expertise and Embark’s rich game universes, the upcoming television series and movies aim to capture the excitement, depth, and community spirit that have made the original games so beloved. If successful, these adaptations could not only cement the two titles as cross‑media franchises but also pave the way for future collaborations between game developers and Hollywood studios, further blurring the lines between interactive and passive entertainment.