Marathon’s Upset Benefits ARC Raiders, “They Served as an Excellent A/B Test,” States Embark Studios

ARC Raiders and Marathon Playtests: A Coincidental Convergence

In April, both ARC Raiders and Marathon conducted their playtests simultaneously, an occurrence that, while unplanned, proved to be advantageous for Embark Studios, the creators of ARC Raiders. According to Virgil Watkins, the studio’s technical director, this overlap provided valuable insights into advanced game development strategies.

Recent ‘Server Slam Test’ Results

Recently, Embark Studios completed a ‘Server Slam Test’ from October 17 to 19, allowing players across platforms—PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S—to experience the game at no cost. The turnout was exceptional, with Steam reporting a peak of 189, 668 concurrent players, suggesting that the community eagerly awaits the final version of ARC Raiders. The results of this playtest are anticipated to influence the game’s development significantly.

Insights from Marathon’s Playtest

Interestingly, not all lessons gleaned from this testing phase stemmed from direct feedback on ARC Raiders. Speaking to PC Gamer, Watkins remarked on how Marathon’s overlapping playtest served as an effective comparative analysis for the team at Embark Studios. He noted,

“It was very coincidental that they had their test around the time we did. To my knowledge, I don’t think any of us knew that was going to happen. It was a very great A/B test for us because obviously, they made decisions that we didn’t, and vice versa.”

Watkins elaborated on how this unique situation allowed the teams to observe player reactions to different gameplay elements: “It was quite interesting to follow in what players thought about those certain things, or what did work in their context and didn’t, and what may have worked in ours.”

The Competitive Landscape and Looking Ahead

While Embark Studios refrains from disclosing specific examples of insights gained, it’s logical to assume that both teams are monitoring each other’s progress, particularly given their focus on extraction shooter mechanics. Although the recent server slam test for ARC Raiders saw great popularity, its market performance will face different challenges compared to Embark’s other title, The Finals, which benefits from being a free-to-play model.

In contrast, the future of Marathon remains somewhat nebulous. Bungie is set to conduct a closed, invite-only test later this month, governed by a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).This uncertainty surrounding Marathon’s trajectory stands in stark contrast to the more defined path of ARC Raiders.

As the gaming industry evolves, the outcomes of these playtests not only shape the immediate experiences of players but also define long-term strategies for game developers at Embark Studios and Bungie alike.

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