Hey, Daily Quest readers.
For a while, Arc Raiders looked like the rare extraction shooter that truly had momentum. Embark managed to keep its player base steady post-launch, rolled out frequent updates, and avoided the steep drop-offs that have plagued other live-service giants.
But since the Riven Tides update, things have been noticeably bumpier.
The biggest complaint? The delicate balance between PvE and PvP.
A Core Tension Since Launch
From day one, part of the community has pushed for a pure PvE mode. Others argue that stripping out PvP would fundamentally change what makes Arc Raiders exciting in the first place.
That tension has only intensified after recent balance tweaks. Some players feel PvP encounters have become overly punishing, while others believe PvE threats don’t feel rewarding enough relative to the risk.
Now, Embark is acknowledging the challenge.
“We’re Still Learning”
In a conversation with GamesRadar+, design director Virgil Watkins addressed the ongoing balancing issues.
“It’s not a simple balance to get right,” Watkins said. “Something we’ve learned, and are still learning, is how to tune those PvP and PvE elements so that they feel fair, rewarding, and aligned with what players expect, while still staying true to the core vision of the game.”
That honesty is refreshing — but it also confirms that the system isn’t fully dialed in yet.
As with any live service title, new content inevitably shifts the meta. But in Arc Raiders, the challenge is doubled because PvE and PvP systems constantly interact with each other.
Why PvE Matters More Than You Think
Interestingly, Watkins believes one thing Embark got right is how threatening the PvE elements feel.
“The PvE elements command your attention and respect almost as much as other players do; maybe more sometimes,” he said.
That’s intentional. When AI enemies are genuinely dangerous, player-versus-player encounters become even more intense and meaningful.
But here’s the problem: unpredictability.
The Real Challenge: System Overlap
“You’re not just designing around AI encounters or player-versus-player competition in isolation,” Watkins explained. “You’re creating situations where those systems interact.”
That overlap is exactly what makes Arc Raiders compelling — and exactly what makes it so hard to balance.
Final Thoughts
Embark isn’t abandoning the PvPvE formula. But they’re clearly still refining it.
The question now is whether players will stick around while the studio continues “learning.”
Do you think Arc Raiders should lean more into PvE, or double down on its unpredictable PvP chaos? Let me know below — and follow @TheDailyQuest0 for more daily gaming quests!
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