Embark Studios significantly overhauled Arc Raiders during development, slowing down movement speeds by roughly 60% and removing whimsical traversal tools like jump pads as the project pivoted into a tactical PvPvE extraction shooter.
From Whimsical Heroics to Tactical Extraction
The game’s original reveal trailer showcased a fast-paced, high-energy experience where players leaped across environments with incredible agility. However, this aesthetic—highlighted by characters moving at near-superhuman speeds—is a far cry from the grounded, methodical gameplay present in the current build of Arc Raiders.
In an interview following his GDC talk, Embark production director Caio Braga confirmed that the aerial acrobatics seen in the early footage were facilitated by “launch pads.” According to Braga, the development team opted to remove these elements during the transition to an extraction shooter for two primary reasons: to encourage more tactical decision-making and to align with the game’s new, grittier atmosphere. “Before, it was much more heroic, and it fit much better,” Braga noted.
The Evolution of the Snap Hook
While jump pads were discarded to maintain a consistent tone, one iconic tool survived the transition: the Snap Hook. Despite appearing to be a relic of the game’s more “whimsical” past, Braga confirmed that the Snap Hook has been a constant feature since the project’s inception.
The key difference lies in how the tool functions. In the early, faster-paced build, the Snap Hook allowed players to zip around “like Spider-Man” with almost no restrictions. When the game shifted toward a slower, more immersive extraction loop, the tool was refined. In its current iteration, the Snap Hook is designed primarily for vertical traversal—helping players reach high ledges efficiently—rather than serving as a means for gravity-defying combat maneuvers.
While the prospect of the “broken” movement tech possible in the earlier version remains a “what if” for the community, Embark’s focus remains firmly on the deliberate, high-stakes experience that defines the current version of Arc Raiders.
