About 30% of Arc Raiders players focus on PvE, and Embark’s happy with that: ‘We want to instil hope in the player’
Embark Studios has reported that approximately 30% of Arc Raiders players focus exclusively on the Player versus Environment (PvE) mode, and the developer has expressed satisfaction with this split of playstyles. The figure demonstrates that a significant portion of the game’s audience prioritizes cooperative and single-player content over Player versus Player (PvP) competitive experiences.
According to Embark Studios, the developer believes this player distribution is healthy for the game’s ecosystem. The studio has stated that they want to “instil hope in the player,” suggesting that the PvE content serves an important role in the overall game experience and player retention strategy.
One notable metric highlighted in the reporting is that over 95% of Arc Raiders players utilize the game’s proximity chat feature, indicating strong engagement with the social and communicative aspects of the game. This widespread adoption of proximity chat suggests players are actively using voice communication systems, which facilitates collaboration in both PvE and competitive scenarios.
The discussion around Arc Raiders’ player preference split touches on a broader conversation within the live-service gaming community regarding game design balance. Developers often need to cater to multiple playstyle preferences to maintain a diverse and engaged player base. Embark’s contentment with having roughly one-third of players focused on PvE content suggests the developer has intentionally designed the game to accommodate both cooperative and competitive preferences, recognizing that different players seek different experiences within the same title.