Arc Raiders was announced nearly four years ago with an impressive trailer at The Game Awards. Developers realized the game was “not fun,” leading to a three-year delay.
Initial Reception and Challenges
Embark CEO Patrick Soderlund noted that the initial trailer captivated both the audience and developers. However, internal tests revealed that the actual gameplay did not match the excitement of the trailer. The PvE action was sometimes enjoyable but lacked consistency.
Executive producer Aleksandr Grondal, who joined Embark during this critical period, struggled to understand the game’s direction. He was tasked with finalizing the multiplayer game but found that enjoyable moments only occurred once every 50 fights. This inconsistency was deemed insufficient for the game’s viability.
Shift in Game Direction
After extensive evaluation, Soderlund and Grondal concluded that the game was not fun. Consequently, Embark shifted from a PvE format to a PvPvE extraction shooter. This pivot faced criticism from fans, but Soderlund believed it would be justified if they had seen earlier versions of the game.
Despite initial reservations, the team received positive feedback from a technical test conducted in April. The game’s new direction has garnered significant interest, making it the fifth-most wishlisted game on Steam. Players are eager to see the results of the six-year development cycle.
