Marathon’s Playtest Was a “Great A/B Test,” Says Arc Raiders Director
▼ Summary
– Arc Raiders is launching later this month, while Marathon’s release is uncertain, both being major extraction shooters originally planned for the last quarter.
– Arc Raiders’ developers benefited from an unplanned A/B test by comparing player reactions to both games’ different design decisions during their simultaneous tests.
– The team analyzed how players responded to each game’s unique take on the extraction shooter genre to identify what worked and what didn’t in each context.
– Arc Raiders’ design director expressed curiosity about Marathon’s future and praised its evocative art style, despite limited access to the game.
– Arc Raiders’ final playtest was successful, while Marathon is holding another NDA-protected test this week, with potential for leaks despite restrictions.
The recent playtest for Marathon provided an unexpected but valuable opportunity for the developers of the upcoming extraction shooter Arc Raiders. Arc Raiders’ design director, Virgil Watkins, described the timing of both games’ tests as a fortunate coincidence, creating a real-world A/B testing scenario. This allowed his team to directly compare design choices and observe how players reacted to different approaches within the same genre.
Watkins explained that the simultaneous testing phases were completely unplanned. He noted that the situation offered a unique chance to analyze what design elements resonated with players in each game. By examining what succeeded in one context and what didn’t in another, the Arc Raiders team gained crucial insights into player preferences and mechanics. This comparative analysis helped them refine their own game’s development based on observable feedback from a competing title.
It’s important to clarify that Watkins hasn’t conducted an in-depth analysis of Marathon itself, as access has been extremely limited. Despite the well-publicized challenges facing Bungie’s project, Watkins expressed genuine curiosity about its future. He specifically praised the game’s distinctive art direction, calling it very evocative, and stated his personal interest in seeing how the final product turns out.
Meanwhile, Arc Raiders has just concluded its own final playtest, which reportedly went very smoothly. The full release is highly anticipated, with many wondering if it will be the title to finally push extraction shooters into a more mainstream spotlight. Coinciding with this, Marathon is scheduled for another testing phase this week, though it is under a strict non-disclosure agreement. While details are officially sealed, the history of such tests suggests that information will likely surface through unofficial channels.
(Source: Rockpapers Hot Gun)
