The prospect of a fully realized in-game economy is a polarizing topic among the community.
Fans of the upcoming shooter Arc Raiders recently highlighted some intriguing comments made by the head of Embark Studios.
When asked whether the team intends to implement a trading mechanic similar to the “Flea Market” found in Escape from Tarkov, Patrick Söderlund remarked:
[…] we should certainly look into expanding the trading dimension of the game. Enabling players to exchange gear and materials adds a compelling layer to the experience. It is definitely something we intend to explore as a long-term goal, although no concrete decisions have been finalized just yet.
However, the proposal of a formal marketplace in Arc Raiders has been met with resistance from seasoned players like Jason-Griffin, who are all too familiar with the pitfalls of the Tarkov economy:
As someone who plays Tarkov, I can tell you exactly what a market does to a game. It reduces every single item you find to its flat cash value—nothing else holds weight. Right now, you actually have to make tactical choices based on what you need, whether it’s scrap metal, explosives, or rare gear. The moment you introduce trading, everything just becomes “currency,” and that’s the only thing that matters. Don’t add a market; keep the looting authentic. People are already bartering manually in raids anyway.
Critics within the discussion noted that while Escape from Tarkov requires a complex trade system due to its sheer volume of assets—featuring thousands of ammunition variants—Arc Raiders currently maintains a much leaner loop with fewer than ten distinct ammo types.
Source: iXBT.games