Tired of constantly getting placed in PvP-centric lobbies, one ARC Raiders player decides to join the ARC enemies on a map to bring a bit of joy to others playing the popular game. Mixing PvP and PvE within an extraction shooter has proven to be a winning formula for Embark Studios, as ARC Raiders not only got off to a major start, but has continued to keep a thriving community of players months after launch.
That engagement can largely be attributed to the monthly content updates and consistent patches to fix bugs and other issues, including the recent arrival of the Cold Snap update to ARC Raiders. Not only did the update add a unique new map condition and snow to many of the maps, but players could also take part in the Flickering Flames event to unlock even more rewards. However, the other major part of the popularity of ARC Raiders is how dynamic the world can be, making sure that each match feels unique and different, with players sometimes running into truly strange situations.
ARC Raiders Fans Think Downed Players Desperately Need This Feature, And It’s Not a Self-Revive Kit
A new, intriguing concept suggests adding a PvP feature to ARC Raiders, one that could lead to far more interesting topside stories.
ARC Raiders Player Switches Sides During a Round
Take, for example, the case of Reddit user jimblesnostrombo, a player who admitted that while they love ARC Raiders, had grown tired of being matchmade into PvP lobbies. To help mix things up, the player decided to join the ARC enemies, specifically by using a Snap Hook to climb aboard the deadly Rocketeer and ride around like the Green Goblin. While there is an ARC Raiders achievement for dealing damage to a player while riding a Rocketeer, their goal was much more wholesome.
In a nearly 2-minute video, jimblesnostrombo showcased riding around on ARC Raiders‘ dangerous Rocketeer through multiple lobbies, setting off fireworks, dancing, and even some of the weird mishaps that happened along the way. While no doubt a surprising sight during a match, the Rocketeer at one point flipped over to toss jimblesnostrombo off and downing them in the process. ANother time, after getting tossed and slammed into a building, a group of random players used a defibrillator to revive jimblesnostrombo in a random act of kindness. All in all, the social experiment appears to have been a major success, even though, as the player admitted, they died a lot.
While the type of lobby that players are matchmade into is largely random, there might actually be ways to manipulate it a bit. Art director Robert Sammelin hinted that although matchmaking is relatively complex, ARC Raiders does analyze player behavior and match accordingly. So, while it may not be the only defining factor, players can push their way into specific matches based on how they play, so PvP-oriented players will likely find themselves in lobbies that engage more in that style of play. Naturally, there seems to be a bit more to this subject, but Embark Studios doesn’t seem to be willing to go too much further into specifics.
Either way, this player is just the latest example of the level of emergent gameplay that exists within ARC Raiders. Pitting players against AI enemies as well as themselves, there are plenty of opportunities to get creative. Some players have taken it upon themselves to essentially break the typical gameplay loop, utilizing the mechanics and tools within the game to essentially spice up a round. Just recently, a lobby of ARC Raiders players united together to set off a massive firework show on top of the Towers on the Spaceport map. Other stories have included people offering others prizes for answering trivia questions, players using instruments to entertain others, and so much more.
- Released
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October 30, 2025
- ESRB
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Teen / Violence, Blood
