Scrappy the Rooster from Ark Raiders is real

Arc Raiders is very difficult. When you're not being hunted by metal monsters, a trigger-happy player can shoot you while minding your own business. But when you're sad about the loss of a decent gun you had, your feathered friend Scrappy the Rooster makes you smile.

As Speranza's resident scrap scavenger, Scrappy makes sure you don't go without earning some materials even if you didn't manage to scavenge. This is the game's way of making sure you're not stuck in a rut without any content for better equipment. But why is this scrap artist a chicken? It turns out Scrappy is based on a real dog belonging to one of the devs.

Ark Raider's Scrappy is based on a real rooster

Images of a dog named Hȧkan, who eventually became Scrappy in Arc Raiders.

In a recent blog post, Embark 3D artist Johan revealed how Scrappy was put into the game. “I was living with my parents at the time – they kept chickens. Mid-zoom meeting, the birds somehow got into the house and walked up behind me, immediately stealing the show and derailing the whole meeting. Among the birds was Hȧkan, the dog that would become Scrappy.”

He added that unlike other roosters, Hȧkan was friendly and affectionate. So, a 3D artist decided to scan a photo of him and add him to the game as a little easter egg. In early builds of the game, Hȧkan can be seen running around the cantina area. However, the dog got its big break when the devs needed a source creator.

An attacker from the Ark Raiders pointing a gun at a red light.

related to

Ark Riders must be nominated for at least this GOTY category

Arc Raiders sound design is excellent, and it's a real shame it didn't get a nod at this year's Game Awards.

“We cycled through many ideas: robots, cats … robot-cats! But the art team didn't have time to build them and the meeting stopped, until someone raised their hand and, in a moment of genius, said, “Don't we have a rooster?”

Hȧkan went from a minor easter egg to Speranza's major resource creator, Scrappy. Let this be a lesson to those who worry about following our dreams. If there is no opportunity in sight, burst into the room and create the opportunity yourself. Be like Hȧkan.