Arc Raiders Might Finally Let Us Walk Around Speranza (But Please Don't Kill The Menus)
It looks like Embark is finally listening to the people who want to stretch their sore legs between raids.
If you have been playing Arc Raiders, you know the vibe. The world is lethal and beautiful. But when you get back to base in Speranza, the immersion kind of hits a wall. You are essentially navigating a series of glorious JPEG menus (And the same quote for the 500th time , from one of the slightly animated vendors). It gets the job done, sure. But for a game that leans so heavily on its aesthetic, it always felt a bit sterile to just click a button to buy ammo instead of walking up to a gritty vendor and slapping credits on the counter.
Well, according to a recent update from ARC Now, the developers have officially confirmed that there is "strong interest internally" to turn Speranza into a fully walkable hub. It isn't a promise of a release date, but it is an acknowledgement that they want to open that door when the timing feels right.
Finally, Some Actual Immersion
I will be honest, I want this. Staring at a menu screen between raids gets lonely.
A walkable hub changes the vibe completely. It stops the game from feeling like a match-made lobby simulator and makes it feel like a world. I want to see other Raiders showing off their battered gear. I want to stand around a burn barrel and emote at strangers. It grounds the experience. It makes the downtime feel like you are actually resting in a bunker rather than just waiting for a server queue.
The "Destiny" Problem
But here is where I get cynical. I have played enough live-service games to know that "walkable hubs" usually translate to "tedious chores."
I do not want to sprint for 45 seconds just to talk to a vendor to buy a single mag of ammo. I hate running errands in real life, I definitely don't want to do it in a video game. We have all suffered through the Destiny Tower runs where you spend more time loading in and running past dancing players than you do actually grabbing your bounties. If "immersion" means "wasting my time," you can keep it.
The Only Solution Is A Hybrid
I was lurking on the subreddit and saw a user suggest a hybrid approach. This is the only way this works.
Give us the physical space. Let us walk around if we want to soak in the vibes or roleplay. But for the love of god, keep the fast menus accessible via a hotkey.
If my squad is waiting for me, I need to be able to buy my supplies in three seconds flat. If I am chilling solo and want to explore, let me walk to the shop. It gives us the immersion without the annoyance. If Embark forces me to physically run to every vendor, I am going to riot.
Got a hot take on this? I know you do. Head over to r/neonlightsmedia to discuss it.
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