Embark Studios’ Closed Beta: A Glimpse into a New Free-to-Play Shooter
The team behind Embark Studios, founded by seasoned veterans from renowned studios including DICE and the Battlefield franchise, is preparing a closed Beta that will run for a minimum of two weeks. Based in Stockholm, Sweden, this crew invites players in North America to be part of the first wave of testers for a bold, team-based first-person shooter. The project aims to debut as a free-to-play title that blends dynamic environmental interactions with true destruction, challenging players to push the boundaries of freedom in combat.
Fight on the shores of the French Riviera
Within this experience, contestants face off in virtual recreations of two iconic cityscapes: the skyscrapers of downtown Seoul and the old-world charm of Monaco along the Mediterranean. The beta includes an application area for hands-on testing of weapons, devices, movement mechanics, and the effect of intentional destruction. Testers will encounter a variety of formats, from casual matches to organized tournaments, and there are leaderboards to track progress across different roles and skill levels.
During the two-week closed Beta, players unlock weapons, gadgets, cosmetic items, and more. The developers emphasize server-level destruction and advanced movement, noting that almost anything within the environment can be destroyed. The goal is to reinvigorate a genre that some feel has grown repetitive, and the team hopes broad participation will validate their direction and inform future development. Executive Producer Rob Runesson explained that internal playtests occurred before the broader launch to refine the overall experience.
Under development
The program remains in development, with expected tweaks, changes, and additions driven by tester feedback. The game features experimental elements such as server-side movement and large-scale destruction, requiring iterative testing to ensure stability. For anyone curious about the evolving plans, the best way to experience the concept is to join the Beta phase via Steam and observe how Embark intends to reshape the first-person shooter landscape.
Additionally, a recent gameplay trailer provides a glimpse of teams entering a virtual arena where progressively tougher tournaments unfold. According to Rob Runesson, many of the team members have spent more than twenty years crafting first-person shooters, and this project represents a fresh quest to redefine the genre once again for players around the world.