Arc Raiders developer says team has a “good appetite” for a Destiny 2-style social hub

Embark is in its first full year of post-launch support for Arc Raiders. The developer intends to share a roadmap for 2026 in the future, and plans for the year ahead include multiple maps of varying sizes and complexity. While new maps featuring unique conditions and enemies will be highly welcomed, design director Virgil Watkins has also revealed that Embark has a “good appetite” for a social hub similar to the Tower in Destiny 2.

PCGamesN recently conducted an interview with Watkins and asked whether there was any chance of eventually getting a social space in Speranza similar to Destiny 2’s Tower. In Destiny 2, the Tower serves as a social hub where players can meet others online, prepare for missions, pick up quests, and interact with vendors to purchase gear.

Responding to the possibility of a social space, Watkins reveals Embark has “100% discussed it”. He adds that “it was like the first question asked when we started building the front end of the game… [and] it came down to time and scope for us”.

As for why there currently isn’t a social space, Watkins explains that the developers knew they could “build a menu, and the menu will do its job,” meaning “all the extra time involved in making a hub wasn’t worth it, really, or we traded other features for it”.

Watkins adds that while he “love[s] the vibe and aesthetic of a walkable hub,” he would still want to preserve menu navigation so players can act “quickly and efficiently, rather than [having to] run to Celeste and then run to my [raider’s room], and then, ‘Oops, I forgot this thing at Shani’”.

While a social space isn’t part of the current plans, Watkins says it’s something Embark will “continue to discuss,” adding, “I think there’s definitely a good appetite on the team for it as well [and] it’s more about when the right moment to open that door is”.

Weighing the pros and cons of a social space in Arc Raiders

The possibility of a social space in Arc Raiders has split opinion among the fanbase on Reddit following PCGamesN’s interview. One commenter questioned “why anyone would want a social hub,” arguing that it “wastes your time, wastes the dev’s time, [and] takes up resources that could be put into things that actually matter”.

In response, another fan points out that the “social part of the game is strong,” arguing that they “wouldn’t be surprised if [Embark] add a social hub, [as] it would fit the lore and atmosphere of the game”. One instance of the game’s strong social support is fans creating a bounty site to help avenge other players betrayed and killed.

Social hubs provide a place to unwind and freely interact with other players, and another user notes that they “could finally play [their] guitar without getting murdered because a free loadout demon feels like having it”.

Another user references the many hours they have spent “hanging out at the Tower in Destiny just to mess around,” with others echoing that an Arc Raiders social hub would be a great opportunity to chat with fellow players and build friendships before tackling the game’s harsh maps.

Although Embark is open to continued discussions and has a “good appetite” for adding a social space in the future, it isn’t currently part of the studio’s plans and may never materialize. However, if a social hub were to be introduced, the best approach would be preserving efficient menu navigation so players who simply want to jump into the action can continue to do so quickly.

Embark considers Arc Raiders a 10-year project, so there’s a lot about the game that could change in the future. Thankfully, the developer has a lot of support to be ambitious for 2026 following the game’s impressive achievement of over 12 million sales.

The developers have gifted a free reward in update 1.11.0 as a thank you for the game’s incredible success, and the CEO has also recently revealed that the game’s popularity has resulted in offers from Hollywood to turn Arc Raiders into a movie or television series.