The lead design director of ARC Raiders has confirmed that the development team is exploring changes to certain in game events that encourage camping. The extraction shooter from Embark Studios has been one of the most talked about games of the past six months, skyrocketing in popularity after its October release. The game quickly attracted millions of players and even outperformed major new shooters from the Battlefield and Call of Duty franchises. Much of that success has been driven by Embark’s consistent post launch support.
Since debuting in October 2025, ARC Raiders has received updates almost every week, ranging from small bug fixes to new maps and gameplay conditions. The studio has also teased ambitious plans for 2026, including additional locations, new conditions, and the possible introduction of massive new Arc enemies. Now, balancing issues and camping in particular could become a key focus of an upcoming update.
In a recent interview with PC Gamer, design director Virgil Watkins discussed potential changes under consideration. When asked about the Locked Gate and Hidden Bunker events, which have gained a reputation for heavy camping, Watkins revealed that the team is looking into possible «revisions» to those maps. While he did not provide specific details, he noted that the adjustments would be targeted rather than drastic, with the goal of discouraging camping. Watkins explained that Hidden Bunker already features tougher enemies near its entrance to deter players from camping, though skilled players have still managed to deal with them without much trouble.
The issues with Locked Gate and Hidden Bunker were not the first surprise for the team. Watkins previously noted that the developers did not expect entire servers to team up against the bosses. Embark Studios also responds quickly to cheats and exploits, removing players who break the rules.
Active community engagement helps maintain ARC Raiders’ popularity. The team acknowledges that players master enemies faster than expected and has repeatedly addressed matchmaking concerns, debunking rumors about «aggression based matchmaking».
On February 24, the Shrouded Sky update will introduce the Hurricane weather condition, which affects movement and visibility, while Embark continues to develop the game, keeping player interest high.
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