The extraction shooter genre continues to show untapped potential, reflected in the imminent release of two significant titles: Marathon from Bungie and Arc Raiders from Embark. Both games have conducted playtests simultaneously, providing developers the opportunity to compare their decisions and player reactions to their respective approaches.
Between doing it one way or another, they chose better
Virgil Watkins, design director of Arc Raiders, commented on the coincidence of the tests, highlighting that it turned out to be an excellent opportunity for a comparative analysis. “It was a great A/B test for us, as they made decisions that we did not, and vice versa,” explained Watkins, suggesting that the opportunity to observe how players responded to different design decisions was enriching.
Despite this promise, not all analysts are convinced. Tyler Wilde, editor-in-chief of PC Gamer, has expressed his skepticism about whether the market can sustain two extraction shooters, a genre that, by its nature, is not particularly casual. “Both studios need their extraction shooters to be a success,” Wilde stated, adding that there might be insufficient demand for both games.
In addition, the design director of Arc Raiders praised the artistic style of Marathon, expressing curiosity about its future evolution. “I found the artistic style very evocative… I hope to see more of that in the future,” he commented, highlighting the importance of aesthetic value in video game development. Although both titles have notable differences, comparisons are inevitable in a competitive market that seeks to capture attention in a genre that still has much to offer.
