Tarkov Head Calls ARC Raiders ‘Extraction Shooter for Casual People’
In a recent interview, Nikita Buyanov, head of Battlestate Games (now Rant Gaming Studios), discussed his new game Fragmentary Order, which represents a separate venture from his pioneering extraction shooter Escape from Tarkov, a title that has dominated the genre for nearly a decade.
When asked whether ARC Raiders—Embark Studios’ extraction adventure game that launched to strong reception in October 2025—influenced his work, Buyanov offered a candid perspective. He characterized ARC Raiders as an “extraction shooter for casual people,” emphasizing its accessibility as a defining feature. This comment positions Fragmentary Order and Tarkov as targeting a different market segment with potentially greater depth or complexity.
ARC Raiders has been widely celebrated for being the most accessible entry point into the extraction shooter genre, which traditionally carries a steep learning curve and demanding mechanical requirements. The game’s low barrier to entry has become one of its major selling points, attracting players who might otherwise be intimidated by hardcore extraction shooters.
Buyanov’s remarks suggest he views the extraction shooter market as stratified by accessibility and complexity levels. While ARC Raiders serves casual and newcomer players, his games—Tarkov and Fragmentary Order—appear positioned for players seeking more hardcore experiences. This distinction reflects strategic market positioning as the extraction shooter genre continues to expand with multiple competitors.
The characterization has sparked community discussion, with some ARC Raiders fans viewing the “casual” label potentially as dismissive, though Buyanov’s intent appears to be market differentiation rather than disparagement. As the extraction shooter genre grows, developers increasingly define their titles through accessibility and intended audience.