ARC Raiders Devs Confirm the Game’s Best PvP Map

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Embark Studios, the developers of ARC Raiders, have significantly changed the game’s maps from their initial designs. Originally, ARC Raiders was intended to be a purely cooperative experience. When the game evolved into a PvPvE extraction shooter, the maps needed to be reworked to support player-versus-player combat. Interestingly, the team notes that they built one map specifically with PvP in mind from the start.

Even though many people are playing ARC Raiders, players are still debating whether the game should include a mode focused solely on cooperative play against the environment. The developers originally planned a PvE-focused game, but changed course to include player-versus-player combat because they believed it was necessary for the game’s long-term success. Now, it seems unlikely a dedicated PvE mode will be added after launch, as developers had to significantly redesign entire game areas to accommodate both PvP and PvE gameplay.

ARC Raiders’ Maps Were Originally Designed for PvE, With One Exception

A new behind-the-scenes video on the official ARC Raiders YouTube channel details how the game’s world was created. The developers at Embark explain that ARC Raiders initially began as a purely cooperative game focused on hunting large machines. Because of this, the early map designs were very large and open. However, when the team decided to add player-versus-player combat, they had to redesign the maps to create interesting and competitive encounters, adding more enclosed spaces like buildings and tunnels.

According to Virgil Watkins, Design Director for ARC Raiders, the team didn’t initially consider player-versus-player (PvP) combat when designing maps like Spaceport and Dam Battlegrounds. Once the game shifted to include both PvP and player-versus-environment (PvE) gameplay, things like clear lines of sight, approach routes, and dead ends became much more important. Because giant machines weren’t the only threat anymore, the maps needed to be designed to support encounters with other players. This meant ARC Raiders needed to carefully balance the terrain and environments to work well for both types of combat.

How Embark Designed ARC Raiders Maps with a Specific Flow in Mind

Shifting the game from player-versus-environment (PvE) to player-versus-player (PvP) required a change in how players would move around the maps, so the design team had to adapt. They looked at maps like Dam Battleground in ARC Raiders as a good example of a space that could support both types of combat. According to developer Watkins, the map is accessible for new players, featuring significant height changes and a balance of indoor and outdoor areas. These elements create diverse combat scenarios – tight, close-quarters battles inside buildings are ideal for PvP, while the open fields, scattered cover, and high ground on the dam itself are better suited for taking down flying ARC drones in PvE.

Buried City Was Designed with PvP in Mind

To date, ARC Raiders has 5 multiplayer maps for players to explore:

  • Dam Battlegrounds
  • Buried City
  • Blue Gate
  • Spaceport
  • Stella Montis

As a huge fan of ARC Raiders, I think Buried City is hands-down the best map for PvP. What’s cool is it was actually built after they added PvP to the game, so the whole design focuses on player-versus-player combat. According to Caio Braga, the Production Director, the other maps, Spaceport and Dam Battlegrounds, were changed to fit PvP, but Buried City was made for it from the start. It just feels so much better for battles!

Players who enjoy player-versus-player (PvP) combat will likely prefer Buried City, as it’s designed with a lot of verticality and indoor areas perfect for those battles. Later maps, Blue Gate and Stella Montis, offer different experiences while still blending PvP and environmental (PvE) challenges. Blue Gate is open and spacious like Spaceport, allowing for both large-scale PvE and focused PvP fights. Stella Montis, however, is more similar to Buried City – it’s mostly indoors, with a network of hallways and corridors ideal for PvP action.

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2025-11-30 23:04