Arc Raiders dev says some weapon costs are misaligned

Design lead Virgil Watkins told Gamesradar that Embark Studios is "definitely a bit off on some of the cost to benefit ratios" for guns like the Bobcat and Tempest and that "all weapons have to be usable."

The report notes many top Arc Raiders weapons, especially rare and epic guns, feel dramatically better once upgraded to level three or four, which can be costly even before accounting for ongoing repair costs. Cheaper options such as the common Stitcher and uncommon Anvil are significantly less expensive to upgrade and maintain, and players have complained that popular guns including the Renegade, Venator, Tempest, and Bobcat have felt untenably expensive.

Watkins said the original intent was that "any given weapon in capable hands should be capable of winning a fight if you're playing smartly," and that even the worst weapons must remain viable to protect the game's core gunplay. The piece does not set out any specific changes or a timeline for adjustments to the weapon balance.

Key Topics

Culture, Arc Raiders, Embark Studios, Virgil Watkins, Bobcat, Tempest