Battlestate Games head Nikita Buyanov spoke sharply about ARC Raiders, emphasizing that his approach to the genre differs radically from what Embark Studios offers.
In an interview with GamesBeat, Buyanov commented on the success of ARC Raiders, which, after its release in October 2025, received widespread acclaim largely thanks to its accessibility and focus on team play. However, the developer stated outright that he does not consider such an approach suitable for his own projects.
According to Buyanov, ARC Raiders is an "extraction shooter for a casual audience", and that kind of format "does not suit" his team. Instead, he insists on creating the most difficult and demanding experience possible.
We want to make the most painful, the most difficult, and the most rewarding game.
He also made it clear that the friendly atmosphere on which ARC Raiders is largely built is not a priority. Although players may try to build interaction with one another, the main task remains a realistic survival simulation. In future projects, including Fragmentary Order, this will be expressed even more strongly: players will have to face dynamic events, seek shelter, and sometimes unite — not for "friendship," but for survival.