Arc Raiders Devs Rethink Rewards After Player Resets
▼ Summary
– Just over one million players, or under 10% of the total player base, opted to reset their characters in Arc Raiders’ first expedition window for rewards.
– The expedition system lets players send off a leveled character to earn cosmetics, XP boosts, expanded stash space, and, for those gathering 5 million credits, extra skill points.
– Design director Virgil Watkins noted that 35-40% of participating players managed to collect the 5 million credits needed for the full skill point bonus.
– Feedback indicated the 5 million credit requirement was seen as a mandatory goal by many, not an aspirational one, and information about it was released later than ideal.
– The next expedition window will function similarly, but the team is reviewing player data to add more variety and may adjust the final credit rush.
The recent conclusion of the first expedition window in Arc Raiders has provided Embark Studios with valuable data on player engagement with its unique reset system. While the game has sold an impressive number of copies, only about a million players chose to participate in the optional character reset, exchanging their progress for rewards. This represents a relatively small portion of the overall player base, indicating that the majority opted to retain their hard-earned loot and character progression.
For the uninitiated, expeditions are a voluntary feature where players can send their leveled-up character and entire stash on a grand adventure. In return, they receive cosmetic items, an experience boost for their next character, expanded storage space, and, for those who amassed a significant sum of credits, bonus skill points. The most coveted reward required gathering five million credits to unlock the full suite of extra skill points for a future character.
Design director Virgil Watkins shared insights in a recent interview, noting that of the players who participated, roughly 35 to 40 percent successfully reached that five-million-credit threshold. He acknowledged that the team’s communication regarding this final requirement could have been clearer. The developers intentionally waited to announce the specific credit goal until they could analyze the in-game economy, setting it as an aspirational target for dedicated players. However, the feedback revealed that many in the community interpreted it as a mandatory objective, creating unintended pressure.
With the next expedition window scheduled in just over a month, the core reset mechanic is expected to remain similar. However, the studio is actively reviewing player data and considering adjustments, particularly to the final credit-gathering phase. The goal is to introduce more variety and perhaps refine the requirements based on the lessons learned from this initial run.
A key differentiator for Arc Raiders in the extraction shooter genre is this opt-in nature. Unlike games with forced seasonal wipes, players are not obligated to reset their progress. This allows more casual participants to continue building their inventory without disruption, though it raises the question of whether the current reward structure is enticing enough for them to voluntarily sacrifice their accumulated wealth.
The game continues to build momentum, with its accessible price point and strategic discounts helping to sustain a strong player base. Its cultural impact is even extending beyond gaming, with reported interest from Hollywood in a potential adaptation. As Embark Studios digests the data from this first expedition, player feedback will likely shape how these rewarding, yet risky, resets evolve in the future.
(Source: EuroGamer)
