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Watkins admitted that the 5-million-coin threshold was announced later than intended. “We deliberately waited to finalize that figure so we could calibrate it against the community’s actual earning rates and overall wealth,” he explained. The intention was to make the maximum skill point reward feel like a truly aspirational achievement for the most dedicated raiders.
Embark is fully aware of the friction this high cost caused. Watkins acknowledged that many players felt pressured to stockpile wealth, leading to “dark patterns” in gameplay where users would only deploy their cheapest gear or focus solely on “free runs” to save money. This cautious behavior often ran counter to the intended high-stakes experience of the game.
“The system is evolving,” he promised. “We aren’t married to the current implementation and will continue to adjust it to ensure it motivates players correctly. Our priority is balancing rewards so that veteran players gain an incentive without receiving an unfair advantage over those just starting their journey.”
When asked if future Expeditions might abandon the coin-count metric entirely, Watkins confirmed that everything is on the table. “We chose that specific mechanic largely because it was feasible for the launch window. We are currently evaluating different criteria and hooks for the next phase, and we’ll be ready to share those plans once they are finalized.”
Related: Arc Raiders Design Lead clarifies how the game handles matchmaking and player aggression.
Source: gamesradar.com
