Arc Raiders Dev on Marathon Playtest: 'Great A/B Test' for Genre
In the highly competitive world of game development, studios often work in secrecy. However, in the burgeoning extraction shooter genre, one developer has revealed how a competitor's public test provided invaluable, real-world data, framing it as an unintentional "great A/B test" that helped inform their own design philosophy.
The comment comes from Aleksander Grøndal, the design director for the upcoming sci-fi extraction shooter Arc Raiders. As two of the most anticipated titles in the genre, Arc Raiders and Bungie's Marathon have been on a collision course, with both holding playtests earlier this year. While Embark Studios' Arc Raiders is now preparing for a full launch, Bungie's Marathon has been delayed indefinitely following its own tests. According to Grøndal, the public nature of these tests provided a unique opportunity to see two different approaches to the genre play out in real-time, offering lessons that his team could observe and learn from.
A Tale of Two Extraction Shooters
The extraction shooter genre, which tasks players with entering a high-risk map, securing valuable loot, and surviving to an extraction point, is becoming increasingly crowded. Both Arc Raiders and Marathon aim to bring a high-budget, sci-fi flair to the formula.
- Marathon: Bungie's revival of its classic 90s IP was announced as a PvP-focused extraction shooter. However, following playtests, reports emerged that the game was delayed to allow for a substantial creative reboot. This decision was reportedly made after feedback suggested its core gameplay loop, which was said to feature hero-based characters, wasn't resonating as strongly as intended.
- Arc Raiders: Developed by Embark Studios, a team composed of many industry veterans, this title began life as a cooperative PvE shooter. It has since pivoted into a PvPvE extraction shooter that has garnered significant positive buzz from its own closed alpha tests. The game is now on track to launch later this year.
This divergence in outcomes is what makes the "A/B test" comment so insightful. With two major studios tackling the same genre simultaneously, the entire industry has been able to watch their fortunes unfold.
The "A/B Test" Explained
In marketing and design, an A/B test is a method of comparing two versions of a single variable to determine which one performs better. For example, a website might show one version of a button to 50% of its users and a different version to the other 50% to see which gets more clicks.
In his comments, Grøndal applied this concept to game design. He suggested that because both games were testing different philosophies within the same genre, Marathon's struggles offered a powerful, public case study. It allowed the Arc Raiders team to see how a specific set of design choices—such as a different pace, character system, or time-to-kill—was received by the core audience.
This public feedback loop essentially acted as a massive, unplanned research project. For Embark Studios, it likely served to validate their own design decisions for Arc Raiders or, potentially, highlighted pitfalls to avoid as they finalized their game. It’s a rare moment of transparency where one studio's development process, for better or worse, becomes a lesson for another.
What This Means for Arc Raiders and the Future
This insight demonstrates a key advantage for developers who are observant and agile. Rather than developing in a vacuum, the Arc Raiders team has clearly been paying close attention to the genre's landscape and player expectations. By learning from the challenges faced by Marathon, they are better positioned to deliver a polished and resonant experience at launch.
The situation also underscores the immense difficulty of creating a successful extraction shooter. The genre demands a delicate balance of high-stakes tension, rewarding progression, and compelling moment-to-moment gameplay. If even a studio with the pedigree of Bungie can stumble, it shows just how fine the margins are for success.
As players await the full release of Arc Raiders, this "A/B test" gives them a new lens through which to view the game. It isn't just the product of one studio's vision, but a game shaped by the successes and failures of the entire genre. For Marathon, the path ahead is longer, but the lessons learned from its initial tests will undoubtedly lead to a stronger, more refined game when it finally re-emerges.
FAQ: Arc Raiders and Marathon
What is Arc Raiders?
Arc Raiders is a free-to-play, third-person PvPvE extraction shooter developed by Embark Studios. Set in a retro-futuristic sci-fi world, players must team up to scavenge for resources and fight against both AI-controlled machines and other human players to escape with valuable loot.
Why was Marathon delayed?
While official details are scarce, reports indicate that Bungie's Marathon was delayed following playtest feedback. The core gameplay loop and hero-based character system were reportedly not meeting expectations, leading the studio to push the release date to allow for significant reworks.
What is an extraction shooter?
An extraction shooter is a subgenre of multiplayer shooters where the primary goal is to enter a map, collect loot or complete objectives, and then safely reach a designated extraction point to keep your findings. Death typically results in the loss of most, if not all, gear brought into the match, creating a high-stakes gameplay loop.
When is Arc Raiders expected to be released?
Arc Raiders is scheduled to launch in 2024. While a specific date has not been announced, its recent successful playtests and development progress suggest a release is imminent.