A Deep, Honest Analysis of Why the Game Struggles – and How It Can Still Win
Arena Breakout Infinite entered the PC market with enormous expectations. Positioned as a hardcore extraction shooter inspired by Escape from Tarkov but optimized for accessibility, Infinite promised tactical realism, high-stakes PvP, and a fair competitive environment.
In practice, Arena Breakout Infinite delivers excellent gunplay and audio, but it is held back by several critical systemic problems that directly affect fairness, player retention, and long-term viability.
This article breaks those issues down clearly, specifically for Arena Breakout Infinite, and explains why they matter.
1. Sniper Overpopulation and Zero Restrictions
The biggest and most universal complaint is the absolute dominance of snipers.
- Snipers exist in every zone: white, yellow, and red
- Over 50% of players in many raids are sniper builds
- Maps have predictable spawns, timings, and countless camping positions
- A budget sniper (≈300k) can easily kill a full T6 player worth millions
Unlike Escape from Tarkov or ARC Raiders:
- There are no meaningful limits on sniper rifles
- No ammo scarcity
- No real downside to running a sniper every raid
This destroys:
- Gear progression
- Close-quarters combat
- Any incentive to invest in expensive kits
Proposed solution:
Hard limits on sniper availability, ammo access, or gear class requirements per zone.
2. Solo Play Is Practically Impossible
Solo players are at a massive disadvantage:
- Squads have:
- Friendly markers
- No friendly fire
- Reduced grenade damage
- Even random squads are better coordinated than experienced solo players
Solo-only queues exist, but:
- They rotate between the same locations weekly
- There is no variety
- No high-risk/high-reward solo mode
Missing feature:
A realistic solo mode without markers, with higher loot density.
3. Broken Damage Registration
One of the most infuriating technical issues:
- Clear headshots register as arm, leg, or torso hits
- Inconsistent hit feedback
- Promised fixes keep getting delayed
Even with top-tier ammo:
- Enemies can survive multiple clean hits
- Deaths feel random and unfair
This destroys trust in gunplay.
4. Loot Tables Are Completely Broken
Safes
Safes often contain:
- Trash items
- Respirators
- Random junk
Instead of:
- Cash
- Gold items
- Red-tier loot
Medical & Weapon Containers
- Medical bags rarely contain actual medicine
- Weapon crates drop useless barrels and parts you can’t use
Required fix:
A full loot table rework with strict container logic.
5. Covert Ops / Impostor Mode Is Useless
This mode feels unfinished:
- Locked to white zones only
- Always terrible gear
- No progression
- No loyalty system
- No unique traders
Compared to mobile Arena Breakout, this is a cut feature, not a mode.
6. Sound System Is Fundamentally Broken
Sound works only in open fields.
Problems:
- Walls completely block sound
- Vertical audio is unreadable
- Staircases are silent
- Helmets destroy positional awareness
Especially bad on:
- TV Station
- Multi-floor interiors
7. No Endgame, No Purpose
After ~100 million currency:
- Players quit
- No long-term goals
- No prestige systems
- No meaningful progression
Everything leads back to farming money, but money has no value.
8. Naked Players in High-Risk Zones
Current limits are money-based, not gear-based:
- You can enter restricted zones with:
- Sniper rifle
- Cheap armor
- Minimal investment
This again fuels sniper meta and punishes geared players.
Correct solution:
Minimum armor and helmet class requirements.
9. Face Shield Meta Kills Helmet Diversity
- Almost everyone uses face shields
- Non-face-shield helmets are pointless
- Snipers force constant head protection inflation
Face shields should be:
- Rare
- Expensive
- Situational
10. Full Gear Squads in White Zones
White zones should be beginner-friendly.
Instead:
- Full T5/T6 players farm poor players
- No class restrictions
- No protection for low-budget runs
11. “Actors” (AI-Controlled Players)
These AI-controlled pseudo-players:
- Distract during real fights
- Create false confidence
- Ruin tactical reads
They exist to hide matchmaking issues, not improve gameplay.
12. Ballistics and Damage Logic Are Arcade-Level
Problems:
- Almost no bullet drop relevance
- Zero need for zeroing scopes
- Massive damage falloff
- Headshots don’t kill reliably
This turns Arena Breakout into a pseudo-arcade shooter, not a hardcore one.
13. Sterile, Atmosphere-Less Maps
Maps are:
- Too clean
- Too bright
- Too polished
No sense of:
- Collapse
- Evacuation
- Loot desperation
The atmosphere has been sacrificed for visibility.
14. Weapons Were Not Rebalanced After Recoil Changes
- SMGs like the MAC-10 and the Vector are obsolete
- DMR recoil remains outdated
- Weapon classes are inconsistent
Partial reworks created a half-baked balance state.
15. Bosses Are Not Threatening
Except one:
- Bosses are just stronger bots
- No personality
- No unique behavior
- Easily cheesed
Compared to Tarkov, they are forgettable loot pinatas.
16. No Proximity Voice Chat
A massive missed opportunity:
- No emergent gameplay
- No negotiation
- No memorable encounters
Requested for years. Still absent.
17. Too Many Modes, No Reason to Play Them
Safe mode dominates:
- Best profit
- Minimal risk
White and yellow zones are empty.
Red zones are unrewarding.
18. Money Has No Value
Money can:
- Buy gear
- Upgrade Citadel (barely useful)
No:
- Prestige wipes
- Cosmetic rewards
- Meaningful sinks
19. Hidden Matchmaking Manipulation
Players report patterns:
- Loss streak → empty lobbies
- Wins → full sweaty raids
If this system exists, players must be able to control it.
20. Broken Auto-Matchmaking
Examples:
- Full T6 player matched with T4 teammates
- Solos thrown against full squads
- Gear level is ignored completely
21. No Region Selection
Players are forced to:
- Use VPNs
- Accept dead or overcrowded servers
Region selection should be standard.
22. Clans and Guilds Are Pointless
No:
- Clan progression
- Shared goals
- Clan bases
- Seasonal rewards
The current system is passive and forgettable.
23. AI Bots Are Terrible
Bots:
- Don’t patrol
- Don’t flank
- Don’t loot
- Miss shots at point blank
They feel like placeholders, not enemies.
24. Extremely Repetitive Gameplay Loop
Raid → loot → extract → repeat
No variation. No long-term narrative.
25. Armor System Makes No Sense
- High-tier armor melts instantly
- Leg meta is always optimal
- Armor doesn’t feel protective
Armor needs deeper interaction with ammo and hit zones.
26. Too Few Players Per Map
Maps feel empty:
- Reduced spawns
- Fewer encounters
- Actors replacing real players
27. Hunger & Thirst Are Meaningless
Energy drinks replace:
- Food
- Water
- Survival planning
Either remove or fully redesign these systems.
28. Ammo Pricing Is Absurd
- Ammo costs 50–60% of the full kit value
- Encourages meta-stacking
- No risk management
Better solution:
- Cheaper ammo
- Cannot be stored in a secure case
29. Stagnant Weapon Meta
Only a few weapons dominate:
- HK
- AK variants
- Snipers
Most guns are never used.
30. Traders Are Mostly Useless
Except for resale exploits:
- Traders (contacts) offer no meaningful gameplay
- Loadouts bypass them entirely
31. Gear Sets Are Poorly Designed
- Starter kits are too weak
- Mid-tier kits pointless
- Premium kits nearly invisible
32. Pistols and SMGs Are Mostly Dead
Because:
- Headshots don’t kill reliably
- Face shields dominate
- Damage system punishes low-caliber weapons
33. Boring Quest Design
Most quests give:
- Tiny rewards
- No motivation
Only pouch quest matters – and it’s painfully grindy.
34. Hard Meta in Armor Choices
Only a few armor pieces are viable at each tier.
Diversity is illusory.
35. Terrible Death Animations
Enemies collapse unnaturally.
Kills lack weight and satisfaction.
36. No PvE Exploration Mode
Players can’t:
- Learn maps safely
- Test routes
- Practice tactics
After 2 years, this is unacceptable.
37. Campers Go Unpunished
Campers thrive, especially on Farm, while aggressive players are targeted by bots. A smarter bot AI that punishes static play would encourage dynamic fights.
38. No Viable Tier 5 Helmet
Tier 5 helmets are either deaf (e.g., Madzak) or underprotected (e.g., Cheburashka). Adding a balanced option, like the Tier 6 USA65, would fill this gap.
39. Stale Mode Rotation
Safe Zone, the most popular mode, is limited to two maps (Armory and TV Station). Randomizing locations or adding new modes, like storm variants, would keep it fresh.
40. Broken Creator Codes
Creator codes often fail to deliver promised rewards or give inconsistent bonuses, frustrating new and returning players. A reliable system is overdue.
41. Red Items Feel Ordinary
Red-tier items, meant to be rare, are underwhelming, costing slightly more than standard gear. Boosting their value or rarity would make them exciting.
42. Limited Weapon Mods
Weapon customization is shallow, with most players using the same grips, sights, and stocks. Expanding mod variety and balancing options would deepen builds.
43. Useless Rating System
The rating system, from newbie to legend, has no impact on matchmaking or rewards. It’s a meaningless grind that needs tangible benefits.
44. Blurry Graphics
Despite its graphical boasts, textures often appear blurry, especially at a distance, undermining the game’s visual appeal. Sharper assets and better optimization are needed.
45. Weak Anti-Cheat
Rage cheats, like wallhacks, go unpunished unless players accumulate 40+ reports. A proactive anti-cheat system is critical to maintain fair play.
46. Boring Mission Design
Most missions give:
- Tiny rewards
- No motivation
Only pouch quest matters – and it’s painfully grindy.
48. Broken Textures
Textures, especially on weapons and beige objects, glitch or smear during movement, even without upscaling tech like DLSS. This visual bug needs urgent fixing.
49. Boring Missions for Titanium Case
The missions for a 3×3 secure case are a tedious grind, and other quests offer paltry rewards like 20,000 Koens. More engaging tasks with meaningful rewards are essential.
50. Empty Lobbies
Even on “full” maps, spawns feel sparse, reducing tension and making encounters predictable. Increasing player counts or tightening spawn points could restore the chaotic energy of early raids.
FAQ – Critical Questions Players Ask
Short answer: No – but it is pay-to-accelerate.
Spending money does not give direct combat advantages, but it:
reduces economic pressure,
allows faster recovery from losses,
enables more consistent access to high-tier kits.
In an extraction shooter, economic stability = power, so the effect is indirect but real.
Because armor penetration, ammo tiers, and medical survivability scale too aggressively.
A skilled low-gear player can outplay mistakes – but cannot overcome:
T6 armor + meta ammo,
high-tier helmets with face shields,
superior meds that erase mistakes.
Skill matters, but gear often decides the outcome before the fight begins.
Cheaters exist, but the bigger issue is perception.
Due to:
low time-to-kill,
limited killcams,
and high loss penalties,
players often cannot tell whether they were:
outplayed,
unlucky,
or killed by cheats.
This uncertainty alone damages trust and player morale.
Mechanically — yes.
Systemically — not yet.
Infinite improves:
controls,
visuals,
and PC precision,
but still inherits:
gear dominance,
economic snowballing,
and onboarding problems.
The core design philosophy remains the same.
Final Verdict
Arena Breakout Infinite is not a bad game – in fact, from a technical and conceptual standpoint, it is one of the most advanced extraction shooters outside of PC-only hardcore titles. However, its critical problems are structural, not cosmetic, and that makes them far more dangerous long-term.
The biggest issue is that ABI does not consistently reward mastery. Instead, it often rewards:
- Raw gear value,
- Economic advantage accumulated early,
- Tolerance for grind or spending,
- And abuse of optimal meta-strategies.
This creates a widening gap between:
- New players who lose kits faster than they can learn,
- Mid-tier players are stuck in economic stagnation,
- And high-tier players who effectively play a different game with minimal risk.
From a design perspective, this violates one of the core principles of competitive extraction shooters:
“Risk must scale with reward – for everyone.”
In ABI, risk collapses at the top, while punishment is extreme at the bottom.
That said, the foundation is extremely strong:
- Gunplay is excellent
- Audio design is among the best in the genre
- Maps are well-structured and readable
- Tactical depth exists and feels intentional
If Tencent / MoreFun Studios address:
- Gear-to-skill scaling,
- Economic inflation,
- Cheater perception,
- Onboarding and recovery mechanics,
Then Arena Breakout Infinite has the potential to become the definitive mainstream extraction shooter.
If they do not, the game risks becoming:
- A niche hardcore sandbox for veterans,
- Or a short-term grind trap for new players who eventually quit.
Final professional verdict:
Arena Breakout Infinite is a great game trapped inside several bad systems. Fix the systems – and it dominates the genre.
