Players who join an Arc Raiders match late might think they are at a disadvantage, but the opposite is actually true. According to Virgil Watkins, the design lead for the game, those who spawn in later tend to make more money by the end of the session.

This information came from a recent interview where Watkins discussed the game’s mechanics. The team at Embark Studios has been looking at the data, and the results show that late joiners are often more successful economically than players who start right from the beginning.

Watkins explained that there is a common misconception about late spawning. Many players believe that when they arrive late, all the valuable loot has already been taken by others. They worry that they will be left with nothing to collect and will fall behind in resources.

However, the data tells a different story. Players who enter the map after the match has already started actually end up with more cash in their pockets when they extract. This goes against what most people would expect to happen in a game like this.

The reason for this success is tied to the flow of the game. When a match begins, it is very busy with many players running around and fighting. As time passes, the session becomes quieter. Some players are eliminated, and others leave the map with their loot.

By the time a late joiner arrives, the chaos has settled down somewhat. They can move through the map more safely without encountering as much immediate danger. This gives them a better chance to explore high-value areas that might have been too risky earlier on.

Late joiners often stumble upon the aftermath of battles that happened before they arrived. They can find the remains of fights where players were eliminated, leaving behind valuable gear and resources. This allows them to collect items without having to fight for them directly.

Additionally, they have the opportunity to take on bigger threats, like large drones, with less interference from other players. These high-ticket targets are often ignored by early players who are focused on immediate combat, giving late joiners a chance to secure big rewards.

The purpose of the late spawn system is not to punish players, but to keep the game world alive. Watkins noted that without this feature, maps could become empty after about ten minutes. This would make the game feel stale and boring for anyone still playing.

Embark Studios wants to ensure that matches remain fresh throughout their duration. By adding players later, they keep the action going and make sure the map feels populated. It is a way to maintain engagement for the entire session, not just the beginning.

The developers had hoped that players joining late would adapt their goals. If they cannot complete their initial objective because they started too late, they should pivot to alternative tasks. The game is designed to offer multiple ways to succeed, even if you miss the early phase.

However, Watkins admitted that there are situations where late spawning causes genuine frustration. This is especially true for limited-time events or missions that require completing specific objectives. In these cases, arriving late can feel unfair and ruin the experience.

For example, if a player has set aside time specifically to complete a trial or a locked room mission, starting late means they might not finish it. This is a pain point that the team is aware of and is actively looking into.

Watkins confirmed that the developers are investigating how to balance the system better. They want to keep maps populated and lively, but they also want to remove the feeling of missing out through no fault of the player’s own.

The main goal is to address situations where a player joins with a dedicated purpose, only to have that purpose undermined by the late spawn. The team wants to eliminate this specific pain point first, ensuring that players who have clear goals are not unfairly disadvantaged.

Overall, the late spawn mechanic is a strategic element of Arc Raiders. While it may seem like a setback, the data proves it is often a hidden advantage. Players who understand this can use it to their benefit and potentially earn more than their early-starting counterparts.