ARC Raiders Skill Tree Overhaul Incoming - What Players Can Expect Next?

ARC Raiders' Riven Tides update will officially launch on April 28th. Simultaneously, the developer controversially changed the way Expedition mode works. However, this isn't the only major change coming to this extraction shooter; Embark hinted months ago at a major overhaul of the game's skill tree.

Recently, Virgil Watkins, the game design director for ARC Raiders, gave several interviews, discussing many important matters, including the highly anticipated skill tree changes.

Next, I'll discuss information about ARC Raiders skill tree and the truth behind the game's longevity.

Skill Tree Changes

Skill trees are common in many other games and are quite stable. Why the sudden change to ARC Raiders' skill tree?

Community feedback indicates that players are dissatisfied with the current skill tree's unclear skill effects, limited choices, and numerous ineffective upgrades. Mr. Virgil Watkins addressed this issue in his interviews.

He stated, "Introducing a skill tree system in ARC Raiders was a tricky issue for us. While players have found some mainstream builds using the existing system, many are not satisfied with the benefits of tweaking it." Virgil Watkins acknowledged the need for improvement.

Virgil Watkins added, "I don't think we've found a perfect solution. Changing the skill tree requires observing how players actually play, designing based on our intentions and even theories, but primarily it depends on how players engage in the game."

Because of changes in certain systems or progression loops, the current skill tree system doesn't align with other parts of the game. Therefore, Arc Raiders' skill system will undergo significant changes, but Mr. Watkins did not elaborate on what these changes entail.

PvP and PvE Skills

Some ARC Raiders skills are indeed misnamed, partly because some skills are better suited for PvP players, while others are better suited for PvE players. Therefore, players specializing in one area may be at a disadvantage in others.

The developers are currently planning to address this issue, and personally, I believe it requires significant reform. The skill tree needs a more nuanced structure. I dislike minor numerical changes; what's needed is for every skill to have a purpose, whether in PvP or PvE. I believe most players share this sentiment.

I hope ARC Raiders will adopt a dual standard, finding a balance between PvE and PvP. This means these skills can achieve two different states. Balancing PvE and PvP is crucial to prevent any single path from becoming too dominant. It's anticipated that this update will focus on making the progression more meaningful without disrupting game balance.

The evolving game mechanics and progression system have made the current skill tree feel out of place with the rest of the game experience. Virgil Watkins acknowledged that they will be re-evaluating the skill tree to better serve the current and future versions of the game. We also hope that the future skill tree will make it easier for players to develop their character's abilities, thereby defining their specific playstyle.

At the end of the interview, Mr. Virgil Watkins posed the question: In PvP, should players who invest skill points in the combat skill tree automatically defeat those who invest more in survival or looting abilities?

Currently, the skill tree reform is in an experimental adjustment phase. While it appears to have made some directional progress, much work remains to be done. For me, the most important thing right now is to make players feel that they truly have a complete set of options that can ultimately be integrated into their own playstyle.

As Mr. Virgil Watkins said, they are not perfect yet and are constantly adjusting. As for what else they can do to the skill tree, and whether these adjustments will truly be effective, that's a matter of opinion; we can only wait and see.

Future Outlook

Some adjustments in ARC Raiders may have some impact on game traffic. We can see that the number of online players is still slowly declining. Generally, the 24-hour peak is 82,000, which basically means that the core player base of the game has been reached. Ensuring they make the right decisions is perhaps more important than ever. While player numbers are low, online player counts peak whenever new content is released. We expect another surge when ARC Raiders Riven Tides launches on April 28th, because of the new map and new ARC.

Meanwhile, the changed Expedition rules, requiring players to complete damage challenges using ARC Raiders Items, have also added to the game's recent popularity.

Therefore, ensuring the skill tree design is correct is crucial. Hopefully, this new content will bring players back to the core gameplay, providing a more challenging and rewarding experience.

ARC Raiders has already built a substantial player base. Now, it needs to clarify its positioning, maintain its original design principles, and retain as many players as possible. Sometimes, the number of casual players may exceed the number of hardcore gamers. Let's wait and see how the game develops.

This concludes the article on the changes to ARC Raiders skill tree and its future development. The skill tree changes are just one of many issues the development team is constantly considering. Hopefully, they will find the answers in the upcoming Riven Tides update.