In a recent interview, Nikita Buyanov, the head of the studio at Battlestate Games (and now Rant Gaming Studios), took a deep dive into all things Fragmentary Order. That’s his new game, and it’s totally separate from Escape from Tarkov, his pioneering extraction shooter that has been around for almost ten years.
One segment of the interview asked Buyanov if he had taken any inspiration from the immense success of ARC Raiders, an extraction ‘adventure’ game from Embark Studios that launched to a whirlwind reception in October 2025.
What he said might irritate some ARC Raiders fans.
Nikita Buyanov Brands ARC Raiders a Casual Shooter
The biggest selling point of ARC Raiders is that it’s phenomenally accessible. It’s the perfect entry point to the world of extraction shooters, a genre that’s traditionally very tough and unwelcoming. That’s certainly the case with Escape from Tarkov, which has long been considered one of the most challenging games ever made.
ARC Raiders took the concept of the extraction model and flipped it around in 2025. Embark Studios opted to push out a game that almost rewarded teamwork and, in many ways, promoted a ‘friendly’ environment. It’s a much more social game and more conducive to cinematic sequences blossoming as a result of collaboration and not competition.
In a recent interview with GamesBeat, Nikita Buyanov, the face of Escape from Tarkov, spoke about Fragmentary Order, his new ‘combat simulator’ game being pieced together by an all-new studio, Rant Gaming.
Later in the discussion, GamesBeat’s Dean Takahashi asked if Nikita had been inspired by ARC Raiders’ emergent gameplay, probing to learn if he’d ‘picked up any ideas from it.’
Buyanov said:
It’s an extraction shooter for casual people. It’s not an option for us. We want to have the most painful, most challenging, and most rewarding experience.
When Takahashi expanded on that and asked if Buyanov didn’t want friendly people in his games, Nikita said:
Well, you can try. That’s your call. But we’re trying to simulate reality. Tarkov is the same. We simulate reality. But in the future, it will be even richer than that. You’ll have a lot to do, and not just fighting people. You’ll need to survive dynamic events in the location. You might need to work with others to find shelter.
Fragmentary Order was revealed properly this month with an all-new trailer and backstory breakdown. The interview with GamesBeat uncovered a huge amount about the game, including the inspiration behind it, why it’s now being made, and what it means in relation to Escape from Tarkov.
Spoiler Alert: Nikita won’t confirm yet if it’s related to Escape from Tarkov.
Ultimately, Nikita isn’t wrong about ARC Raiders. It was built to be a more accessible extraction title, and that’s partly why it has done so damn well since launching last year.
But what do you think about his statement? Do you think ARC Raiders is reserved solely for casual gamers? Let us know your thoughts on the Insider Gaming Discord server.
For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that Gray Zone Warfare’s next updates have been teased
Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
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