Arc Raiders "needs that element of tension and risk" from PvP to work, dev says, even though Embark knows people are loving its "safer lobbies"

Arc Raiders.

One of the most fascinating things about Arc Raiders – or about PvPvE shooters more generally – are all the social dynamics fuelled by the knowledge that anyone in the lobby could hunt and loot your corpse like game or become your next virtual bestie. And while Arc Raiders' matchmaking does keep track of how prone each player is to aggression, one lead dev reckons the tension of not separating PvP and PvE enjoyers is essential to the game's winning sauce.

Embark Studios CEO Patrick Soderlund last month delved a little bit into how exactly the hit game's matchmaking works, claiming "first it's skilled-based," then it checks if you're playing solo or in a group, and then it also takes into account what side of the PvPvE spectrum you fall on.