Arc Raiders Dev Surprised Story Gamers Took to PvP Combat

Embark Studios was surprised to find that players who usually prefer narrative-driven games like The Last of Us enjoyed the PvP aspects of Arc Raiders. However, this same group is asking for fewer PvP encounters, creating a challenge that the developer is now working to address.

Arc Raiders is an extraction shooter where squads scavenge a post-apocalyptic world while battling AI enemies called ARCs. While PvP combat exists, it’s not the main focus. This design choice seems to attract players who typically shy away from the genre. According to GamesRadar+, solo players have described the game as “shockingly chill” for an extraction shooter — a notable observation for a genre known for its high-stakes PvP tension.

The developer’s surprise highlights an important point: story-driven players are engaging with PvP without quickly disengaging. However, they prefer less conflict than the usual extraction shooter crowd. Embark is considering how to adjust the frequency of these encounters without alienating either group. This balancing act will be crucial for the game’s long-term player retention.

Arc Raiders is set to enter early access in 2025 after years of development and multiple changes in direction. Initially, it launched as a PvE-only concept, but Embark later transformed it into the current PvPvE extraction format. This history makes player feedback particularly important; the studio has shown it will adapt based on audience input.

To put this crossover appeal in perspective, The Last of Us — the narrative action game referenced by Embark — boasts a 95 on Metacritic and holds 82% positive reviews on Steam from nearly 43,000 users. Its audience typically doesn’t venture into extraction shooters. If Embark manages to keep even a small portion of that demographic, it could tap into a player base that competitors like Hunt: Showdown and Escape from Tarkov have largely overlooked. The MP1st review called Arc Raiders “the definitive extraction shooter,” indicating that its core experience is already competitive within the genre.

The key design question is whether reducing PvP encounters will lessen the tension that makes extraction gameplay so appealing. While Embark hasn’t announced specific changes yet, their acknowledgment of player feedback suggests that adjustments are on the horizon.

By The Numbers

The Last of Us Metacritic Score	95
The Last of Us Steam Reviews	82% positive (42,974 reviews)
The Last of Us Current Price (Steam)	$59.99
The Last of Us Current Steam Players	1,645
Arc Raiders Early Access Launch Year	2025

Community feedback about the low-conflict solo experience has been positive. One player, as quoted by GamesRadar+, shared how others guided them across the map, saying, “They’ll even take me there like I can’t find the eggs in the supermarket.” This captures the unexpectedly cooperative spirit of the player base, even in a PvP-enabled environment.

What To Watch

• Whether Embark announces any formal changes to the PvP encounter rate in Arc Raiders, and how the existing extraction shooter community reacts to any adjustments.
• Concurrent player counts for Arc Raiders over the next 60 days — stable numbers will indicate if the crossover appeal is a long-term retention factor or just a short-lived curiosity.
• How other games in the extraction genre respond if Arc Raiders shows that a lower PvP frequency can significantly broaden its audience.