GRYPHLINE released Arknights: Endfield on January 22 for PC, PS5, and mobile. Somewhat unusually for a free-to-play game, it features robust factory building and automation gameplay, with players constructing facilities, processing resources, and manufacturing items in a system reminiscent of Factorio or Satisfactory. However, things can get pretty complex in Endfield, and depending on the player, the learning curve can feel a little steep.
How do the developers view these aspects of the game? How should players go about mastering them? And what mindset will help you if you’re having trouble? We asked developer Hypergryph. Responding on behalf of the Arknights: Endfield’s dev team were level designer RUA and lead planner Ryan, but we’ll refer to them as “the development team” hereafter.
—It’s been some time since Arknights: Endfield was released. It appears to have had a strong launch, but how does the response feel so far?
Development Team:
Thank you. We’re very pleased to say that the game launched successfully.
Since release, we’ve received tremendous feedback from players around the world, and we’re sincerely grateful for everyone’s support.
Based on what we’ve observed, many players have immersed themselves in exploration, combat, and factory building alike, each finding their own way to enjoy the game. Our data also shows average daily playtime and player retention figures that have significantly exceeded our initial expectations, and we consider this a reflection of players’ enthusiasm.
—That’s great news. How much time are players spending on combat, exploration and factory building respectively? I’m curious to know whether playtime is concentrated in any one area.
Development Team:
Looking at the current data, during the early stages of the game, a higher proportion of playtime is spent on exploration and factory building, with combat slightly lower. As players progress further into the map, the proportion of time spent in combat increases. But even then, factory building and exploration continue to account for a significant portion.
What particularly surprised us was the number of players who, from the very start of the game, would spend hours at a time immersed in building factories.
—I can definitely relate since I also get absorbed in setting up my production lines. On the other hand, some players seem to hit a wall when trying to figure out Endfield’s factory building and automation systems. What message would you give to them?
Development Team:
From its earliest stages of development, Endfield was designed so that even players who aren’t well-versed with factory building mechanics could still enjoy it. There’s absolutely no need to rush. We encourage you to take your time, learn gradually at your own pace, and explore the systems as you go. We’re confident you’ll discover and enjoy the unique appeal this title offers.
For things you find particularly challenging, we also recommend consulting online guides for a little assistance. This should help you grasp the game’s mechanics more smoothly.
—So the key is not to rush and to learn things one step at a time. I imagine there were some developers or testers on your team who also found the factory systems challenging at first but eventually got the hang of it. How did those team members go about mastering them?
Development Team:
When it comes to the game designer team, most members have extensive gaming experience, so they were able to grasp the factory systems relatively quickly. That said, some members from other departments did initially struggle.
However, since we tested the game together as a team, those who were more proficient would regularly share tips and techniques, and anyone having trouble could ask more knowledgeable members for help. It felt a bit like gradually getting hooked on a game after being invited by your friends (laughs). Playing together with someone really does make it easier to get into the game.
—Learning from someone who understands does seem like a helpful idea.
Development Team:
While the in-game tutorials are considerable in number, they were carefully prepared for players who have never engaged with factory-style game systems before. By progressing through them properly, we believe players can learn everything they need to know to build their factories in Endfield.
If you’re interested in even deeper gameplay, we also recommend looking up advanced players’ strategies and Blueprints online, setting them up in your own world, and observing how they work. In fact, I myself have learned by copying others’ Blueprints.
—On that note, I wanted to ask something. Blueprint copying is very convenient, but I sometimes hesitate to use it because it feels like I’m giving up on building things myself. Is it really okay to use blueprint copying?
Development Team:
There’s absolutely no need to worry about that. The AIC (Automated Industry Complex) is extremely large in scale. It includes not only base building, but also placing power lines, deploying mining machines, setting up ziplines, and more. There are many different ways to enjoy it. And even if you use Blueprints to skip part of the process, you can always go back to researching and designing your own systems later on. The enjoyment of that process will be there whenever you want to revisit it.
—Thanks, I feel like I’ll be able to use other players’ Blueprints to my heart’s content after hearing that (laughs). By the way, will the factory systems keep growing more and more complex going forward?
Development Team:
Endfield’s factory systems are not designed around a linear increase in difficulty. As you’ve seen in areas such as Valley IV and Wuling, industrial knowledge doesn’t merely accumulate in a straightforward way. Instead, as the story and exploration progress, different directions of development emerge.
In other words, rather than simply becoming more complex, the range of experiences is broadened by expanding in diverse directions. For example, even in Wuling, we plan to introduce new and interesting forms of factory gameplay in the future, so we hope players will look forward to trying them (laughs).
—Finally, could you share a message for players currently learning the ropes of Endfield’s factory systems?
Development Team:
Factory systems are truly fascinating! Through this game, we sincerely hope more players will learn these mechanisms and gradually come to enjoy them. We’d love to see you all become Industrial Kings as soon as possible (laughs).
It’s also worth mentioning that Endfield’s factory systems are set to become more accessible through the game’s upcoming update, and improvements to these mechanics are expected to keep rolling out. As the developers mentioned above, the game is heading towards diversification rather than increased complexity, which should offer some reassurance to players.
Arknights: Endfield is available as a free-to-play title on PC (official site/Epic Games Store), PS5, iOS, and Android.
