Katarzyna Petru
The success of the game ARC Raiders by Embark Studios can be measured in enormous numbers, which make a colossal impression in January 2026. With over 12 million copies sold and record popularity on the Steam platform, where nearly half a million people were playing at one moment, it would be easy to pigeonhole this title as just another market hit. However, what is happening around the "Arks" in the visual sphere goes far beyond ordinary gameplay. Fans of the game, fascinated by its incredible atmosphere and photorealism, have started to treat this post-apocalyptic world like a professional film set.
Gametography, or when a player becomes a film operator
An extraordinary example of this phenomenon is the work of the channel “Director of Gametography”, which proves that the world of ARC Raiders is more than just a backdrop for shooting. The creator, who is a professional film operator in his professional life, has brought his craft into the game. He creates short action films, using the graphics engine to build frames that could proudly appear in high-budget science fiction productions. What is astonishing is the way the “director” collaborates with random players, casting them in roles as actors, setting up scenes, and utilizing game elements – like smoke or lighting – to create true virtual cinema.
Photorealism that pushes the best TVs to their limits
From the perspective of screen enthusiasts, such productions are the best demonstration material for modern games. A game based on the Unreal Engine 5 engine offers a level of detail and lighting that allows you to fully appreciate the capabilities of OLED panels or the latest Mini LEDs. It is precisely for experiences like these, which we encounter in today's games, that we purchase screens with high brightness and excellent contrast – to see how digital dust, the light of a setting sun, and the metallic structures of robots look almost tangible.
Hollywood is already knocking at the door of Embark Studios
The film potential of ARC Raiders has not escaped the attention of the biggest players in the entertainment industry. At the beginning of January 2026, Embark Studios CEO Patrick Söderlund acknowledged in interviews with GamesBeat that the studio has been inundated with offers from Hollywood studios wanting to bring this brand to screens in the form of movies or series. While the creators emphasize that any potential adaptation must be done the right way and without haste, the very fact of such significant interest confirms that we are dealing with a universe of tremendous appeal.
Source: Director of Gametography, GamesBeat
