Embark is comfortable with players taking a break from ARC Raiders to enjoy other games between major updates, according to a new statement. The studio’s aim is to give those players a compelling reason to return when substantial new content arrives.
And that approach fits Embark’s confirmed move toward two major updates a year, giving the team more time to develop changes that meaningfully affect how ARC Raiders plays.
In brief:
- ARC Raiders Alerts reports that Embark accepts players spending time with other games between major updates.
- Embark has confirmed plans for two substantial updates per year.
- Smaller live updates, balance changes, bug fixes, and events will continue.
- Frozen Trail is the first major test of the studio’s new update schedule.
Embark Wants ARC Raiders Updates Worth Coming Back For
According to Embark, the studio wants to deliver substantial packages that evolve the game and encourage players to return. Taking a break in the meantime is something the team is willing to accept.
Especially for players who have exhausted their current goals, that could be a welcome approach. A sizeable update gives a returning squad something fresh to learn, explore, and work toward together.
The challenge is making that return worthwhile. Longer gaps put more pressure on each major release to offer changes that players can actually feel during their raids.
ARC Raiders Moved Away From Monthly Major Updates
Embark explained its decision in a May development update. The studio said the monthly schedule restricted the scale of changes it could deliver and was becoming unsustainable. Its revised plan gives developers more room to work on progression, the economy, and the game’s long-term health.
Executive producer Aleksander Grøndal also discussed the strain in an interview with Game Developer. He explained that maintenance, bug fixes, and exploits consumed development time, while the team repeatedly took on more work than it could handle. Reworking that process would give developers more time to test and refine their ideas.
Describing the previous updates as “low-effort” would miss the problem Grøndal outlined since developers were working hard, but the schedule limited what they could achieve.
Smaller ARC Raiders Updates Will Continue Between Major Releases
Players who stick around will still receive ongoing support. Embark says a dedicated live service team will handle regular updates, balancing, bug fixes, store changes, and player events between the larger releases.
As covered in GameRiv’s breakdown of the ARC Raiders update schedule, Frozen Trail is intended to demonstrate that bigger approach, with a new map, new ARC threats, and progression changes.
