Arc Raiders interview: 'Nobody whatsoever thought we'd have this many players'

Tim Clark spoke with Embark Studios' design director Virgil Watkins and audio director Bence Pajor ahead of the Shrouded Sky update to discuss matchmaking, balance and Expeditions. Watkins pushed back on the idea of aggression-based matchmaking as a binary system.

He said it was never intended to be discussed that way, that there's no such thing as a friendly or aggressive lobby and that matchmaking still mixes everybody; one shot won't automatically land you in an aggressive lobby — engagement over a series of rounds matters.

He also noted that end-of-game surveys have zero factor on matchmaking and are only used to gauge how players felt about a round. The team intends to keep PvP fair and provide tools for combat, while preserving opportunities for peaceful or role-playing sessions.

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