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Watkins warns that a traditional auction house—where items are bought and sold primarily via in-game currency—can be “very risky territory” for game balance.
The danger is that such a system might bypass the most rewarding part of the game: venturing into specific, dangerous locations to hunt for rare crafting materials. Without these distinct objectives, player motivation often boils down to a simple “currency per hour” calculation. For many, the thrill of the hunt—tracking down a specific component to complete a build—is far more satisfying than simply clicking a “buy” button on a menu.
“We’ve put a tremendous amount of thought into making the items the stars of the show,” Watkins noted. “When we experimented with an auction house-style system during development, it fundamentally changed the game for the worse. It became entirely about accumulating coins. Instead of exploring the world and searching containers for that one elusive item you needed, players just looked for high-value loot to liquidate so they could buy whatever they wanted. It stripped away the satisfaction of discovery.”
In a world where every rusted gear and high-tech core is a hard-won prize, being able to simply purchase progress would devalue the entire survival experience. For now, Embark is committed to keeping the focus on the loot itself.
“Multiple maps are slated for release this year,” an Arc Raiders developer teased, hinting at a 2026 roadmap that includes environments even more expansive than those currently available.
Source: gamesradar.com
