In a recent perspective ARC Raiders Adaptation, design director Virgil Watkins discusses the approach Embark Studios used to balance the weapon and its cost to benefit ratio with rare levels. since the beginning, ARC Raiders It continues to be a widely popular game, managing to retain most of its players through the holiday season. For a favorite like the game, it's certainly not perfect, though Embark continues to chip away at various issues affecting the core experience.
Even amidst all the cheating issues currently plaguing the game, player discussion has also centered around the recent update 1.11.0. ARC Raiders. The first update of 2026 was minor in nature, but two changes in particular have already had a big impact on the game, being a major nerf to the popular trigger 'Nade', reducing damage away from the target from the center, while also slightly increasing the explosion time. Another major change was to the Kettle's fire rate, as some players were able to use macros to enable them to fire much faster than normal and cause problems in the lobby.
This ARC Raiders concept will solve the biggest gripes of players
A dedicated ARC Raiders player has designed a concept that Embark Studios wants to pay attention to, as it will solve players' biggest problems.
How ARC Raiders approaches weapon balance
Over the past few months, players have had strong opinions about various weapons ARC RaidersPrompting Embark to announce that it is looking into further adjustments, though nothing is set right now. While most weapons feel good when upgraded or mods applied, more often than not, many people just rely on the more common options like the Stitcher, as it's a much cheaper and easier to use option than something like the Venator or Bobcat. When players are constantly at risk of losing their loot to ARC enemies or enemy players, it makes sense to use these cheap and easy to get options.
However, that doesn't seem to be Embark Studios' intention, as design director Virgil Watkins hinted in a recent interview that the game's original purpose was to ensure nothing. ARC Raiders A weapon in capable hands can win a fight, even in what many consider to be the worst in the game. With that said, Watkins agrees ARC Raiders Not there yet and “definitely a little bit lower on the cost to benefit ratio, definitely on those [higher-tier] Weapons.” As it stands, the game gives even a slight edge to players who use better gear, which Watkins doesn't want them to do, saying, “Cost doesn't inherently fill skill gaps or tactical awareness gaps or anything like that.”
But I think we're definitely a little off on some of the cost to benefit ratios, definitely on those [higher-tier] Weapons. It was trying to follow a curve, by spending more and more money, you are getting an edge. Not obvious, like, I'm using a purple weapon, so I win this fight, period. We don't want that.
Watkins offered a brief glimpse into the studio's future plans for how to address this balance. Currently, Embark is trying to make the cost-benefit ratio feel better, especially with some high-end. ARC Raiders Weapons like the Venator. Ultimately, the goal is to have a sense of excitement when a player finds a rare weapon, and if that's not happening, then Embark will continue to adjust things until it gets it right.
Finally, Watkins confirmed that the studio is definitely open to wider changes to weapons, hinting that certain guns could change rarity levels or adjust crafting and upgrade material costs, potentially making them a bit more affordable. Again, nothing confirmed, but as a hypothetical scenario, if a certain weapon is performing as well as expected, it could potentially be moved up or down and another weapon could eventually fill the spot. Watkins confirmed that Embark is currently not set to house any guns, so if it makes sense to move the weapon in the long term, they will likely do so.
While fans may have to wait a little longer to see these adjustments and more balances to weapons, new content appears to be on the way, with fans revealing a new set of trials for January 20, 2026, with their dates and times adjusted. As part of the set, a Poisonous Swamp appeared in the task list, confirming the new map position. ARC Raiders Which has been in the news for weeks.
- issued
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October 30, 2025
- ESRB
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Juvenile / violence, blood
