Embark Studios' Arc Raiders could have benefited from implementing a PvE-only mode much earlier, according to a recent editorial. The author posits that such a mode would have provided a more consistently positive experience for players, counteracting the diminishing returns of engaging with the game's player-versus-player (PvP) lobbies.
The editorial highlights that the game, at its best, fostered enjoyable cooperative moments, particularly when players worked together to overcome challenging objectives. These instances of collaboration with strangers led to memorable and often humorous scenarios, a quality that the author felt was a significant draw for Arc Raiders' initial appeal. However, as the player base dwindled, these positive interactions became rarer, leading to more frequent encounters with what the author describes as 'liars, assholes, or cheaters' in PvP lobbies. This decline in social experience ultimately led the author to stop playing.
While acknowledging that PvP could also generate entertaining social dynamics, as evidenced by a recounted anecdote of players humorously outmaneuvering and then advising a rival team, the author contends that PvE offers a crucial advantage: a guaranteed absence of negative player behaviors like deception or extraction camping. With significant anti-cheat overhauls seemingly absent for PvP, the author believes a PvE option would have been a more stable and appealing long-term solution for many players.
Embark Studios itself has acknowledged that a substantial portion of the Arc Raiders player base is PvE-oriented. The editorial suggests that a dedicated PvE mode could entice players back, even if only out of curiosity to experience the game in a different capacity. While the current PvE test may not guarantee a permanent addition to the game, the author expresses intent to participate, viewing a less intense PvE experience as a potentially enjoyable prospect.
The article emphasizes that the unique, social moments that made Arc Raiders engaging are not exclusive to PvP, but PvE provides a level of certainty regarding the player interaction that PvP cannot. Without a robust solution for PvP's issues, the author concludes that a PvE mode is a necessary step to prevent the game's world from being neglected.