Freedom Through Structure: Character Pipelines at Embark (Presented by Houdini)

Tuesday, March 10, 2026 2:00 PM to 2:30 PM · 30 min. (US/Pacific)
Room 2009, West Hall
Lecture
Business StrategyGame & Production Technology

Information

In this session Erik and Björn take you through the development journey of Embark Studios character pipeline. They discuss leveraging Houdini and USD as the core of their workflows. How it allows them the flexibility of having technical and art focused team members to work in the same shared space. The presenters explore having a procedural mentality, showing concrete examples of working within a range from manual to automated. Using USD in combination with Houdini's PDG and Solaris contexts in order to maximize artistic freedom while minimizing repetitive work. Enabling Embark to support their games Arc Raiders and The Finals, each with varying needs, continuously exploring new solutions in live production.
Room Capacity
241
Audience Level
All
Intended Audience
For artists and technical people alike, that are curious about how USD and Houdini can evolve their workflows.
Attendee Takeaway
Attendees will gain insight into how Embark works with characters. Why using Houdini allows them to balance automation with artistic freedom. And what a node-based workflow enables when working on multiple projects.
Pass Type
Festival PassGame Changer Pass
Type
Partner Session
Available on GDC Vault Later
Video

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