Embark confirms ARC Raiders doesn't split players into peaceful and aggressive lobbies

Embark Studios has officially confirmed that ARC Raiders does not use aggression-based matchmaking. If you thought you could game the system to land in lobbies with more peaceful players – that's not how it works.

In a recent PC Gamer interview, Embark Studios design director Virgil Watkins cleared up some widespread misconceptions about how matchmaking actually functions. According to him, the system isn't binary – there's no strict split between "peaceful" and "aggressive" lobbies.

"We didn't coin the term aggression-based matchmaking. It's not nearly as binary as people think. There's no such thing as a friendly lobby or an aggressive lobby; the system is still mixing everybody, and everything's down to human motivation. Just because you're tending toward the more peaceful end doesn't remove the autonomy from other people making a choice about wanting your stuff."

Watkins noted the system is far more nuanced than it might appear. You can't just shoot other players and automatically end up in a more PvP-focused lobby next round.

Embark has noticed that players tend to have more fun in safer lobbies, but the team isn't pushing any particular playstyle. Watkins said how aggressive a lobby feels is always down to the players themselves – nobody is forcing you to shoot anyone. That's entirely your call.

"I think we just have to primarily make sure that the PvP side of the game is as fair as we can make it. We still have the mantra – and this is even regardless of the formation of this PvE-heavy audience – that the game never asks you to fight other players. That's entirely your own decision. So you're always going to have people who have the motivation to fight, because there are people who just like PvP."

Watkins also clarified one more thing: end-of-round surveys have zero effect on matchmaking. Getting killed in a rough PvP encounter and marking that you didn't enjoy the combat won't slot you into a quieter lobby next time.

"Those are just to help us gauge how players felt about the round. They have no mechanical change on what happens to you. It is solely based on your actions in the round. Those just go to our data team and help us pair up like things that occurred in the server."

With recent updates, running into aggressive players has become noticeably more common – over the last 20 rounds, at least half involved PvP encounters or campers at extraction points. A couple of weeks ago the numbers were much lower, even during night raids.

Tomorrow, ARC Raiders is getting hurricanes.