The upcoming cooperative shooter Arc Raiders features a distinctive soundscape, with developers at Embark Studios sourcing unique audio samples, including those from a piano discovered within Chernobyl's Forbidden Zone. The developers shared that someone located and sampled an old piano in the exclusion zone, and this audio library was then acquired for use in the game.
While the game's sound design aims to create an immersive experience, sometimes the intense action can overpower subtler audio cues. The typical soundscape includes distant gunfire, the clicks and cracks of smaller enemies, and the noise of players scavenging through abandoned buildings. However, the inclusion of unique musical instruments adds another layer to the game's auditory presentation.
Initially, a playable trumpet was conceptualized for the game, intended for both social bonding among players and as a strategic tool to lure or distract enemies. This idea eventually evolved into the 'lure grenade,' a more practical gameplay mechanic. Over time, the instrument roster expanded to include the piano, guitar, harmonica, flute, banjo, recorder, and shaker.
Composers Patrik Andrén and Johan Söderqvist, who have backgrounds as performing musicians, collaborated with musicians from Sweden's jazz scene to create many of the game's unique sounds. They are known for their experimental approach, often using abstract methods and everyday objects to generate music and sound effects.
For instance, raw synthesizers are used to create sounds associated with the game's enemies, while other unique noises have been generated by connecting fruits to synthesizers. This experimental process, though yielding only small amounts of usable audio from extensive recording sessions, results in highly distinctive and