ARC Raiders Developer Teases Custom Loadout Presets to Reduce Menu Time

The potential addition of custom loadout presets in ARC Raiders has players buzzing, as Embark Studios has publicly noted the growing discontent with the existing gear and crafting systems.

Embark Studios Responds to Player Feedback

In an interview with GamesRadar+, design lead Virgil Watkins expressed that the team is “super aware”of the demand for a feature that would enable players to streamline their loadout processes. However, he tempered expectations by stating that while this option is on the table, it is not an imminent development due to other pressing priorities following the launch.

Development Challenges and Prioritization

Watkins explained that the idea of saved loadouts has been discussed within the team, but development timelines leading up to the launch limited what features could be realistically integrated into the game’s initial release. According to him, aspects like this must be carefully balanced against ongoing development needs, highlighting the complexity of prioritizing features.

Arc Raiders design lead Virgil Watkins says Embark Studios is “super aware” of player frustration around having to manually build loadouts and has talked about adding custom loadout presets that would save time and clicks — though it’s not coming immediately and still needs… pic.twitter.com/hDkbJijyg1

— ARC Now (@ArcRaidersNow) January 18, 2026

Player Experience and Interface Improvements

Player feedback has increasingly pointed to frustrations with the user interface (UI), particularly regarding the extensive navigational efforts required to rebuild a loadout following a player’s death. Many gamers report spending more time configuring their gear than participating in matches. Watkins openly acknowledged this issue, revealing he too opts for free loadouts simply to bypass the cumbersome menu process.“I’m like, ‘I’m just gonna go free this time, guys, let’s just go and get in there and do stuff.’ It’s completely acknowledged, ” he stated.

Proposed Solutions for Enhanced Gameplay

While stressing that he was not making claims on behalf of Embark’s UI/UX team, Watkins did propose how saved loadouts could dramatically enhance gameplay efficiency. He envisions a system capable of automatically assembling an ideal loadout based on players’ resources.“I think that’s a completely valuable thing, where it just attempts to do its best job to fulfill your request with your loadout, ” he explained.“It’s like, ‘Well, you’re short on this resource and that resource, here’s what you get.’”

Watkins reiterated the studio’s commitment to ensuring players spend more time engaged in action rather than struggling through menus, especially after efforts to improve matchmaking have already cut down waiting times.

The Road Ahead for Custom Loadouts

Currently, while the concept of custom loadout presets remains an unconfirmed update, Embark Studios’ acknowledgment signals that the issue is very much on their radar. As ARC Raiders continues its post-launch development, players can remain hopeful for future enhancements that align with their gameplay experience.

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