"That really sucks": Arc Raiders lead responds to complaints about late spawns, says late joiners are important and "profit way more" but Embark knows it's annoying to have no time for objectives
GamesRadar+ • • technology
Key Points:
- Embark Studios' Arc Raiders uses a late spawn system that drops players into ongoing raids with about 17 to 25 minutes left, aiming to keep raids active and suspenseful by preventing early player drop-off.
- Design lead Virgil Watkins acknowledges that late joining can frustrate players who have insufficient time to complete their intended objectives, especially during time-sensitive events like the Queen's Harvester.
- Despite perceptions that late joiners miss out on loot, data shows they often economically benefit by encountering quieter sessions and opportunities to tackle remaining high-value targets.
- The system encourages late joiners to adapt by pursuing alternate objectives or loot routes, but this flexibility is limited in raids with singular or strict objectives, leading to potential dissatisfaction.
