In May 2026, the development team behind ARC Raiders, a popular video game, announced it would change its update schedule from monthly to two major annual updates. The decision came as the team cited unsustainable workloads as a key issue. Executive producer Aleksander Grøndal admitted the team was exhausted, calling the transition to a game-as-a-service model "fucking hard" and stating that the team was "extremely tired." The game had already sold over 16 million copies in six months after its release, marking a significant commercial success for the Swedish studio Embark Studios and serving as a blueprint for future projects by its parent company, Nexon. Patrick Söderlund, who was CEO of Embark and later promoted to Executive Chairman of Nexon, highlighted that ARC Raiders was developed with "many fewer people and for a fraction of the usual cost of a AAA game," showing the team's efficiency. However, the game's success brought challenges, as the team struggled to keep up with the demands of a growing and increasingly engaged player base. Grøndal noted that while the team was proud of its achievements in the first four months after the game's launch, it had to honestly evaluate how the workload was affecting both the developers and the overall player experience. To address these challenges, Embark had to reconsider its working methods to restore the team's passion and motivation. Grøndal mentioned that the team was "extremely unhappy" with the pace of work, which they described as "not fun or stimulating." Player feedback also suggested dissatisfaction with how often updates were released. The next major update was scheduled for October 8, signaling a strategic shift aimed at ensuring long-term sustainability and maintaining high-quality standards. Grøndal, who had previously worked at Electronic Arts and experienced burnout after developing a Battlefield game, stressed the importance of avoiding such situations. He described burnout as a "horrible feeling" and something he "don't wish on anyone." His experience underscored the need for a more balanced approach to game development, focusing on both the well-being of the team and the satisfaction of the players.