Arc Raiders Skins and Character Customization is Surprising!
ARC Raiders’ Skins are “Grounded”, not “Boring”
When you first lay eyes on the world of ARC Raiders, it’s impossible not to be impressed. The gritty, retro-futuristic art style, the imposing ARC machines, and the hauntingly beautiful environments all tell a story without saying a word. The hype for the lore, the sound design, and the tactical gunplay is real. But there’s one thing that has left many players feeling a little underwhelmed: the Character Skins.
At first glance, every Raider looks pretty much the same—dressed in variations of brown and grey, with any hint of color being muted and dirty. Coming from Embark Studios, the same team behind the wild and vibrant customization of The Finals, it feels like a strange step back. But the more we look, the more it starts to make sense. Embark has been cooking, and there are already clues that the future of fashion in the Rust Belt is going to be much more exciting than it seems.
It’s All About the Vibe: Why Arc Raiders Skins Start Gritty
First, we have to understand the world Embark is building. ARC Raiders is not a virtual game show like The Finals; it’s a post-apocalyptic world where you are a scavenger, a Raider. The initial cosmetics are clearly designed to establish a very specific, recognizable aesthetic. It’s a blend of retro-futuristic “NASA-punk” from the 70s and 80s with a scavenged, utilitarian feel. This creates a cohesive and immersive world where nothing feels out of place.
If you’ve seen the 2018 sci-fi film Prospect, the inspiration feels undeniable. The sturdy, function-over-form gear, the clunky single-shot weapons, and the overall gritty vibe are a perfect match. “Recognizable” seems to be the goal here, even before “flashy.”
The MMO Blueprint: Starting Simple to Make a Statement
This “start simple” approach is a classic trope in the MMO world. You don’t begin your adventure in epic, glowing armor. You start with basic leather gear and a wooden shield. The bland starting look is intentional; it makes the flashy, high-level gear you earn later feel that much more special and rewarding. It’s a visual representation of your journey and progress.
This is almost certainly what’s happening in ARC Raiders. The skins we’ve seen so far are the “level 1” gear. The more colorful and stylish options are being held back as rewards for pre-orders, the in-game store, and most importantly, the voluntary seasonal resets from the Expedition Project.
The Clues Are Already Here: What’s Coming?
We don’t have to just guess; Embark is already showing us what’s next. A recent Embark video snippet on Arc Raiders Skins and Customization revealed a golden skin for Scrappy, your trusty rooster companion. This skin is part of the “Gilded Driftcoat” bundle, which immediately makes you wonder just how stylish that outfit will be.
The customization menu itself has also been updated since the last tech test, now showing more toggles for premium outfits to adjust details like wires on gloves or spikes on boots. While you can’t mix-and-match pieces from different outfits—a deliberate choice to maintain that cohesive art style—the depth of customization is clearly growing.
We can also look at the NPC traders for clues. Celeste wears a bright yellow suit reminiscent of Kill Bill, and Lance is a full-on android. Who’s to say we won’t get an android body type as a top-tier Expedition reward in the future?
We can even look back at early trailers for proof that Embark has had flashier designs from the very beginning. One of the first-ever trailers featured a sleek, assassin-like Raider with golden bracelets, a look that felt very different from the current scavenged vibe. Interestingly, a very similar design philosophy has made its way into The Finals. This doesn’t mean we’ll get direct ports, but it shows that Embark is willing to share creative DNA between their games, as long as it fits the gritty world of ARC Raiders.
As if to confirm this, Embark just dropped a new batch of concept art on their official Discord, giving us a direct look at their vision for customization. The art showcases a range of styles, from rugged survival gear to more colorful and personalized outfits, giving us a peek behind the curtain at different headgear, jackets, and unique cosmetic attachments. This is the clearest sign yet that the initial brown-and-grey look is just the starting point.
Conclusion: The Future is Bright
While ARC Raiders is definitely giving us less customization freedom than The Finals, it’s all for a good reason: to build a believable world. The initial gritty aesthetic sets the stage, but all signs point to a future filled with more colorful outfits, unique backpacks, and maybe even flashier knockout animations.
Knowing Embark’s track record with The Finals, we can be confident that the cosmetic game in ARC Raiders is just getting started. Hopefully, you’re now as hyped as we are to see what they’ve cooked up.
What do you think of the customization so far? If you want to chat, join our community discord to connect with other passionate gamers!
Get hands-on with ARC Raiders for a full weekend of fun Topside on October 17 – 19, here’s everything you need to know about ARC Raiders Server Slam! If you missed the news, check out our Arc Raiders Pre-Order article for a breakdown of the price and other exclusive bonuses, or a Lore-focused article about the main Raider Settlement – Speranza!
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