TheRetroArcade
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Posts: 1,997
Joined: Feb 2026
Joined: Feb 2026
"Should we even have done this reset?"
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After Embark Studios' "playtest battles" and slew of competing plans caused it to pivot Arc Raiders away from its PvE boss-killing roots, it decided to add PvP to spice things up. While the rest isn't quite history (development was still far from simple), it would be a defining factor in how it became the PvPvE extraction shooter it is today.
In a GDC talk, Arc Raiders production director Caio Braga revealed that it almost walked this decision back. Once Embark had moved away from its scattershot ideas for a PvE boss rush, it conducted a bunch of "validation" tests, which were effectively playtest surveys during its development, to gauge its progress.
Braga recalled one of the first rounds of feedback they received from this process, which happened right after "a big reset" that added PvP. On the surface, the data showed a "substantial negative PvP sentiment," the team believed, causing them to doubt whether it was the right direction: "They didn't like the PvP".
"A lot of our initial conversation was about whether we should have even done this reset. Should we add PvP to this?"
However, Braga explained that, after more thorough analysis and reflection on the data, the team realised that the PvP itself wasn't the root problem. Rather, it was the weapon balancing and feedback of the PvP engagements, and how solos and squads were pitted against each other.
After rigorous weapon balancing to make PvP more satisfying, and ultimately solving the solos versus squads conundrum via separate queues, it clicked. Well, during development at least.
Once Arc Raiders was released into the wild with hundreds of thousands of players giving it a go, the PvP versus PvE debate cropped back up. It's still one of the most divisive features of Arc Raiders five months later, with a large number of players asking for a PvE mode. I'm sure some players wished Embark had never made that fateful connection between PvP, weapon balancing, and matchmaking, and axed PvP instead.
Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.
Arc Raiders roadmap: New and improvedArc Raiders best skills: Survive the surfaceArc Raiders best weapons: Just don't lose themArc Raiders Expeditions: Retire your RaiderArc Raiders quests: All the missions and how to beat 'emArc Raiders Weather Monitor Proje...Read more: Full article on www.pcgamer.com
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Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.
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Every Friday
GamesRadar+
Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.
Every Thursday
GTA 6 O'clock
Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.
Every Friday
Knowledge
From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.
Every Thursday
The Setup
Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.
Every Wednesday
Switch 2 Spotlight
Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.
Every Saturday
The Watchlist
Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.
Once a month
SFX
Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!
After Embark Studios' "playtest battles" and slew of competing plans caused it to pivot Arc Raiders away from its PvE boss-killing roots, it decided to add PvP to spice things up. While the rest isn't quite history (development was still far from simple), it would be a defining factor in how it became the PvPvE extraction shooter it is today.
In a GDC talk, Arc Raiders production director Caio Braga revealed that it almost walked this decision back. Once Embark had moved away from its scattershot ideas for a PvE boss rush, it conducted a bunch of "validation" tests, which were effectively playtest surveys during its development, to gauge its progress.
Braga recalled one of the first rounds of feedback they received from this process, which happened right after "a big reset" that added PvP. On the surface, the data showed a "substantial negative PvP sentiment," the team believed, causing them to doubt whether it was the right direction: "They didn't like the PvP".
"A lot of our initial conversation was about whether we should have even done this reset. Should we add PvP to this?"
However, Braga explained that, after more thorough analysis and reflection on the data, the team realised that the PvP itself wasn't the root problem. Rather, it was the weapon balancing and feedback of the PvP engagements, and how solos and squads were pitted against each other.
After rigorous weapon balancing to make PvP more satisfying, and ultimately solving the solos versus squads conundrum via separate queues, it clicked. Well, during development at least.
Once Arc Raiders was released into the wild with hundreds of thousands of players giving it a go, the PvP versus PvE debate cropped back up. It's still one of the most divisive features of Arc Raiders five months later, with a large number of players asking for a PvE mode. I'm sure some players wished Embark had never made that fateful connection between PvP, weapon balancing, and matchmaking, and axed PvP instead.
Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.
Arc Raiders roadmap: New and improvedArc Raiders best skills: Survive the surfaceArc Raiders best weapons: Just don't lose themArc Raiders Expeditions: Retire your RaiderArc Raiders quests: All the missions and how to beat 'emArc Raiders Weather Monitor Proje...Read more: Full article on www.pcgamer.com
What do you think about this?