- Primary Subject: ARC Raiders
- Key Update: Embark Studios confirmed it will not introduce lore-breaking skins or novelty crossovers that dilute the game’s post-apocalyptic identity.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: February 10, 2026
- Quick Answer: Embark says ARC Raiders cosmetics will always fit its fiction, rejecting Fortnite-style novelty skins in favor of grounded, lore-consistent customization.
As soon as ARC Raiders broke out, it was pulled into the ongoing live-service conversation about whether popularity leads to increasingly outlandish cosmetic content.
After years of shooters drifting toward loud, novelty-driven outfits inspired by games like Fortnite, many players worried that Embark Studios’ stylish extraction shooter might eventually follow the same path.
Those concerns have been addressed head-on by Embark’s leadership, who have made it clear that ARC Raiders is not built to support an “anything goes” cosmetic philosophy.
What Is Embark’s Official Stance on Skins and Crossovers?
According to Patrick Söderlund, the studio has no interest in diluting the game’s identity with skins or collaborations that clash with its world.
ARC Raiders is defined by a carefully constructed post-apocalyptic setting, and that cohesion extends to its visual design.
Even cosmetics that divide opinion are still created with the same grounding in the game’s fiction, ensuring they feel like natural extensions of the universe rather than attention-grabbing gimmicks.
As Söderlund put it directly, “We want to make sure that everything fits the fiction of Arc Raiders, and that it’s something that sits well within the Arc Raiders universe.”
He has repeatedly emphasized that the goal is not to avoid customization, but to make sure customization feels earned rather than out of place.
Why Is Arc Raiders Different From Games That Allow Anything-Goes Cosmetics?
A driving reason for this stance is ARC Raiders’ carefully authored world, which leaves less room for narrative and aesthetic elasticity than titles like The Finals or Fortnite.
In games designed around spectacle and abstraction, it’s easy to justify wildly different characters and outfits coexisting without friction.
Söderlund explained this contrast bluntly, noting that in some games, “you can be a pink banana, and it just makes sense,” whereas ARC Raiders has “a more curated lore, curated world,” meaning the team has to respect clearer boundaries.
That difference is why he has drawn a clear line between ARC Raiders and games where crossovers like superheroes, cartoon characters, or novelty mascots can exist without consequence.
Does This Mean Arc Raiders Won’t Experiment With Cosmetics at All?
This isn’t Embark taking a hardline stance against creativity, as Söderlund has openly said he enjoys cosmetic customization and regularly updates his gear, charms, and backpacks.
The challenge, as he describes it, is finding the space between staying “true” to the core identity and exploring the outer edges of what the lore can support.
Cosmetics will vary between bold and conservative choices, and even when players disagree, that range is part of the design philosophy.
The one constant is that all additions must still feel coherent within the ARC Raiders universe, a principle that underpins Embark’s broader live-service philosophy.
Instead of pursuing short-term hype, the studio is prioritizing organic growth through new maps, enemies, systems, and shared social moments.
Söderlund has repeatedly discussed embracing the surprising ways players engaged with the game after launch, from cooperative PvE play to treating it as a social sandbox or enjoying non-combat elements like instruments and environmental interactions.
Across matchmaking updates and map evolution, Embark focuses on cohesion and ongoing iteration rather than chasing shock value.
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