Embark Studios is taking a unique approach to player feedback in its upcoming title, ARC Raiders. The team is prioritizing a physics-based system instead of the usual on-screen user interface (UI) elements. This choice aims to improve player immersion, ensuring that the in-game world itself communicates important combat information about the massive enemy machines known as ARCs. The goal is to shift from passive immersion to active, engaging gameplay.
The philosophy behind this bold design decision was recently explained in the studio’s docuseries, “The Evolution of ARC Raiders.” Creative Director Stefan Strandberg shared that the main objective was to “allow the things in there to be real.” This approach encourages a stronger connection to the game world. It involves creating gameplay scenarios where mechanical reactions directly show damage and operational status, eliminating the need for traditional health bars or numeric displays. Strandberg emphasized that the results demonstrate, “You don’t need a health bar to tell you that.” This reflects the studio’s strong commitment to realism and accessibility.
This commitment is evident in the game’s combat. The destruction of enemy machines occurs gradually and systemically, relying entirely on visual and physical cues to indicate damage. For example, hitting a small machine’s thruster will visibly disable its ability to fly due to physical damage. Similarly, sustained fire on a large enemy like a Bastion’s leg may cause it to kneel dramatically to recover. These visual signals—ranging from noticeable stagger animations to debris flying—serve as the main information sources, trusting players to interpret the environmental feedback.
Ultimately, Embark Studios is creating a world that continuously communicates with players through physics, machine reactions, and damage states. The intention is to keep players focused on the immediate action rather than splitting their attention between the environment and a separate UI overlay. By having the observable integrity of in-game objects determine the progress of an encounter, ARC Raiders aims for a seamless, immersive experience where the game world’s reality is the ultimate truth-teller. This physics-driven design is a key part of how the studio is defining immersion for the modern third-person shooter.
