Virgil Watkins
Reporting and statements that mention Virgil Watkins.
Latest coverage
ARC Raiders is Swapping its NPC Models With New Ones That Look Like Their Voice Actors
Embark Studios is updating ARC Raiders' NPC models to better reflect the performances of their voice actors, starting with Celeste based on Diana Gardner. This change aims to improve character expressiveness and integrate human performances more deeply into the game. The update, coinciding with the Frozen Trail content drop, will also introduce Reward Passes and dynamic loot zones.
ARC Raiders is Replacing Raider Decks With Reward Passes in Frozen Trail Update
Embark Studios is replacing the Raider Decks system in ARC Raiders with Reward Passes in the upcoming Frozen Trail update. This change aims to address issues with players accumulating too much in-game currency too quickly. Reward Passes will offer a more satisfying progression path with unlockable rewards through completing Feats, and will include both Free and Premium tiers.
Arc Raiders is down but not out - dwindling player numbers and a long wait for the next update mark an important time for the extraction shooter
Arc Raiders, an extraction shooter praised for its accessibility and social features, is experiencing a significant decline in player numbers, dropping from nearly half a million daily players to around 50,000. This decrease is attributed to a lack of substantial content updates, with major additions now only arriving twice a year. The game's unique aggression-based matchmaking system may also suffer as the player pool shrinks, potentially forcing players with different playstyles into the same lobbies. The upcoming 'Frozen Trials' update is seen as a critical relaunch opportunity for Embark Studios to re-engage players and regain lost momentum.
"When Arc Raiders was at its peak," Embark was burning 30 terabytes of data per day tracking every single bullet fired: "We want to know who shot first"
Embark Studios, developer of Arc Raiders and The Finals, employs extensive data tracking to analyze player behavior, with up to 30 terabytes of data processed daily. This data is used for anti-cheat measures, bug detection, weapon balancing, and tuning the matchmaking system to differentiate player aggression levels. The studio can track events like bullet impacts and player positions with very low latency, providing granular insights into gameplay.
ARC Raiders Can Now Distinguish Between Self Defense and Starting Fights for Matchmaking
Embark Studios has detailed ARC Raiders' playstyle-based matchmaking system, which distinguishes between players focused on cooperative play and those preferring PvP encounters. The system now better differentiates between self-defense and initiating fights, ensuring cautious players are not unfairly categorized as PvP-focused. Updates also ensure that low-activity rounds have less impact on a player's matchmaking profile.
Arc Raiders devs "still learning" what to do with PvP, but Embark design director says PvE fights are doing their job: "They make the player interactions even more impactful"
Embark Studios design director Virgil Watkins acknowledges that the studio is still learning how to best balance PvP and PvE elements in their upcoming multiplayer shooter, Arc Raiders. He believes that the unpredictable interactions between these systems are crucial for creating impactful player-driven stories and making combat encounters more meaningful.
Arc Raiders dev thinks yesterday's niche "can become mainstream tomorrow," and today's extraction shooters are simply "easier to step into"
Embark Studios design director Virgil Watkins believes that extraction shooters, once a niche genre, are becoming mainstream due to new titles being more accessible. He notes that the high bar for live service games requires new entrants to earn their place among established player bases.
"It's a slippery slope to try and build a game for an audience": Marathon, Arc Raiders, and Last Flag devs dig into the trend-bucking evolution of multiplayer shooters
Developers from Bungie, Embark Studios, and Night Street Games discuss the evolving landscape of multiplayer shooters, particularly the rise of extraction shooters like Arc Raiders and Marathon. They emphasize the importance of creative vision over trend-chasing and the challenges of launching live service games in a competitive market.
ARC Raiders Will Reward Players With Skill Points for Doing Damage in Expedition on April 28th
Embark Studios is changing the reward system for ARC Raiders' Expeditions, starting April 28th with the Riven Tides update. Instead of focusing on stash value, future Expeditions will reward players based on damage dealt, encouraging active gameplay. The studio also acknowledges player concerns about progression resets and aims to make rewards more meaningful.
Embark Studios is looking to rework Arc Raiders' skill trees in future updates
Embark Studios plans significant reworks for Arc Raiders' skill trees in future updates, acknowledging current shortcomings in their design. Design director Virgil Watkins stated that while specific changes are not yet revealed, the studio aims to improve the progression system beyond minor statistical adjustments.
Embark tells Arc Raiders players to expect "significant changes" to the skill tree, admitting many skills kind of suck: "I don't think by any means we nailed it"
Embark Studios is implementing significant changes to Arc Raiders' skill tree, with design director Virgil Watkins admitting that many skills are currently underperforming. The game's next Expedition, starting April 28, will also alter how players earn skill points, shifting from accumulated wealth to dealing a certain amount of damage.
The shake up to Arc Raiders Expeditions may turn the extraction shooter into a week-long bloodbath, but it could pair well with the "significant changes" planned for its skill tree
Embark Studios is changing the Arc Raiders Expeditions event to reward players based on damage dealt rather than accumulated wealth, potentially making the week-long event more aggressive. This shift aims to encourage active gameplay and the use of valuable gear. The studio is also planning significant changes to the game's skill tree to better align with player behavior and offer more meaningful build choices.
ARC Raiders' design director tells us about the "strong appetite" for PvE
ARC Raiders' design director Virgil Watkins discussed the game's focus on Player vs. Environment (PvE) gameplay in an interview with Pocket Tactics. Embark Studios is preparing for the upcoming Flashpoint update, which will likely expand on the PvE elements.
Arc Raiders dev makes good on its threat, will unleash Shredders on multiple maps in Flashpoint update coming next week
Embark Studios is releasing the Flashpoint update for Arc Raiders next week, which will introduce new content and bring the "Shredders" enemy type to multiple maps. This follows previous hints from the development team that these enemies would eventually escape their original location. The update is part of the game's 2026 roadmap and includes a new map condition and Arc threat.
