Embark Studios has released update 1.36.0 for Arc Raiders, changing the matchmaking system to allow trios while maintaining friendly lobbies for solo and duo players.
This shift addresses a primary player request to decouple group size from combat aggression. By refining how the game pairs players, the developers aim to prevent players who prefer cooperative play from being consistently matched with hostile opponents regardless of their team size.
The core of the update involves a rework of how the game tracks player behavior. Embark Studios said the system has been reworked to better account for player aggression [3]. Previously, the game's logic for identifying aggressive players was less nuanced, often grouping players based on broad criteria that did not always reflect their actual intent in a session.
Under the new system, playstyle is now tracked separately across solo, duo, and trio games [2]. This means a player who is aggressive in a trio setting will not necessarily be flagged as aggressive when playing alone or with a single partner. This separation allows for more flexible social play without compromising the desired experience of the individual lobby.
Furthermore, the update changes how the game interprets combat encounters. David Lee said, "Defending yourself is no longer treated the same as starting a fight" [1]. This distinction is designed to protect players who only engage in combat when provoked, ensuring they are not erroneously categorized as aggressors by the matchmaking algorithm.
The changes come as the game maintains a significant user base, with 40,000 to 50,000 concurrent players every day on PC alone [1, 2]. The development team intends for these adjustments to stabilize the social ecosystem of the game as the population grows.
“"Defending yourself is no longer treated the same as starting a fight,"”
This update represents a move toward 'behavioral matchmaking,' where the game prioritizes a player's intent and history over simple lobby fillers. By distinguishing between proactive aggression and reactive defense, Embark Studios is attempting to reduce toxicity and frustration in high-stakes environments, potentially increasing long-term player retention by protecting non-combative playstyles.
