The upcoming extraction shooter Arc Raiders from Embark Studios recently underwent a playtest, coinciding with a similar event for Bungie's Marathon. This unexpected timing provided Arc Raiders' design director Virgil Watkins a unique opportunity to evaluate strategies and player feedback across both games.
Parallel Playtests for Analysis
Embark Studios conducted a playtest for Arc Raiders close to the same time as Bungie's test for Marathon, which was not a planned occurrence. According to Watkins, the simultaneous tests acted as a valuable A/B test to assess choices made in game design.
- Arc Raiders and Marathon had parallel playtests in 2023.
- Virgil Watkins from Arc Raiders sees potential in extraction genre.
- Marathon praised for its evocative art, per Watkins.
This approach allowed Watkins to observe different design decisions and player responses, helping to refine strategies for Arc Raiders.
Lessons from Extraction Genre
Despite Arc Raiders and Marathon being distinct titles, Watkins observed shared elements within the games, permitting a comparative analysis of their impact. He noted the contrast in artistic choices, as Marathon’s art style was described as “evocative,” which could influence subsequent design iterations at Embark Studios.
Both games aim to capitalize on the extraction genre, but Watkins acknowledged the challenge in ensuring enough market interest to support them both.
Overall, the playtests provided informative signals about player reactions and potential areas of improvement for Arc Raiders, which seems poised to adapt and innovate within its emerging market space.
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