The enemies in ARC Raiders, known as ARCs, appear to adapt to how players act, leading some to believe they use machine learning. However, Embark Studios has clarified that this isn’t actually how it works. According to Martin Singh-Blom, the studio’s machine learning research lead, the developers manually update the ARCs’ abilities and behaviors themselves, rather than letting the enemies learn on their own.
A well-known Twitch clip demonstrated players hiding from a Leaper in tunnels, exploiting the ARC’s difficulty seeing in tight spaces. Embark Studios addressed this by giving Leapers better vision, allowing them to pursue players into narrow corridors. It appears flying ARCs have received comparable upgrades.
We’ve been experimenting with how the drones fly indoors,” explained Singh-Blom. “We’re constantly working to improve their indoor flight capabilities. It’s fun to surprise players by finding ways for the drones to access areas they thought were safe, and make those spaces more challenging.”
Instead of relying on data from players currently playing, Embark Studios constantly considers potential improvements to its ARCs. Popular gameplay clips also give the developers valuable insights into what features to prioritize next.
We aren’t using data about how players actually play the game. Instead, developers watch videos on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, looking for interesting trends. If they see something that excites them – something they think players will really love – they’ll implement a change. The goal is to create surprising and enjoyable experiences for players.
We’re working on some new developments, but they aren’t quite finished and available yet.
Singh-Blom discussed plans to enhance the gameplay of ARC Raiders, potentially allowing players to use ropes to slow down the bigger ARCs. He jokingly compared this idea to the famous battle scene on the ice planet Hoth from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.
As someone who really dives into the game’s physics, I’m always hoping for more realistic interactions. I’d love to see things like ropes actually affecting characters – imagine being able to pull someone’s legs out from under them, or using wires to trip enemies, just like in the Hoth battle scene from Star Wars with the speeder bikes. It’d be awesome if we had more advanced rope physics to make stuff like that possible!
As a fan, it’s awesome to hear how the team works! It sounds like the designers really focus on what the game needs to be great, while the tech folks are all about exploring what’s possible with the new tools. Ideally, they find a sweet spot where they can innovate and push things forward, but still make choices that actually benefit the game and fit within its world. That’s what I’m hoping for – a perfect blend of innovation and good game design!
You can play ARC Raiders on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. The game is getting a big update at the end of April, which the developers at Embark Studios are currently finishing up.
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2026-04-16 17:13