Embark Studios adjusts ARC Raiders strategy following player surge

Embark Studios is shifting its development strategy for ARC Raiders following an unexpected surge in the player base. Executive Producer Aleksander Grøndal stated that players consumed available content much faster than the team anticipated, making it difficult to maintain a consistent release schedule.

To address this, the studio has doubled its development team from approximately 60 to 120 people. Rather than attempting to release frequent, smaller updates that may lack impact, Embark is now prioritizing larger, more polished content updates to ensure higher quality.

Additionally, the development team has acknowledged significant player demand for a dedicated PvE (Player vs. Environment) mode. While no official announcement has been made regarding a PvE-only mode, Grøndal noted that many players wish to focus on the game’s ARC machines without the interference of PvP (Player vs. Player) combat. The studio is currently utilizing an aggression-based matchmaking system to help manage different player behaviors and preferences.