Lobbying Makes a Difference in Arc Raiders
Arc Raiders, in its post-apocalyptic atmosphere, offers players moments filled with both cooperation and betrayal. However, the game’s matchmaking system creates different lobbies based on players’ preferred playstyle. This situation has sparked a new debate within the community.
Arc Raiders’ Behavior-Based Matchmaking System
YouTuber Domi created two different accounts to test the game’s matchmaking system. In the first account, he adopted an aggressive PvP style; creating a character that engaged in combat with opponents, playing with a “shoot first, talk later” approach. In the second account, he tried a peaceful style focused on PvE, avoiding attacking other players.
The results were striking. The aggressive account was mostly matched with similarly aggressive players. Domi even confirmed his theory when he asked an opponent, “Are you usually one of the first to attack?” The answer then inevitably led to a deadly shootout.
The peaceful account, on the other hand, offered the opposite experience. Domi noted that he encountered nine different players and none attacked him. “Everyone was calm and friendly. Nobody shot at me, or even tried,” he summarized his experience.
These observations aren’t just a claim from a content creator. Speaking to PC Gamer, Embark Studios art director Robert Sammelin confirmed that the matchmaking system is “quite complex” and that player behavior is analyzed and matched accordingly. According to Sammelin, other factors such as loadout preference may also come into play. However, players’ individual styles directly affect the energy of the opponents they encounter.
For the Arc Raiders community, this adds a new layer to the game’s competitive nature. Chaotic clashes in aggressive lobbies, as well as friendly encounters, define the game’s dynamics. For some players, this system works almost like a “karmic retribution”: aggressive behavior attracts similar opponents.
