ARC Raiders Update 1.39.0 Fixes PvP Matchmaking: Self Defense Won't Penalize You Anymore!

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• ARC Raiders Harvester Puzzle Guide: How to Get Jupiter and Equalizer Weapon Blueprints Fast?

  Almost every Raider knows how crucial the weapon blueprints for Equalizer and Jupiter are to ARC Raiders.

  These two weapons are arguably the core indicators of a player's or team's late-game maturity, possessing devastating power in PvE, especially against high-difficulty mechanical bosses in the late game, where they outperform regular ARCs. However, not all players possess them.

  As high-value weapon blueprints, the primary way to obtain them in the game is still by farming Harvester Puzzle.

  

  Harvester Puzzle

  Spawn Points

  Harvester Puzzle typically spawns as a limited-time map event for ARC Raiders, guarded by Queen.

  Its main spawn maps are:

  • Dam Battlegrounds
  • Spaceport
  • Blue Gate

  Of course, you can check the icon in Speranza lobby map interface to see where it lights up. Harvester Puzzle lasts for about an hour, after which it transitions to the next environment, so it's recommended to go there immediately after checking the icon's location. 

  Key Features

  Harvester Puzzle revolves around speed and puzzle-solving, with a continuous 45-second cycle (charging, discharging, fire-breathing), severely testing players' speedrunning abilities.

  Therefore, your task isn't to defeat Queen outside, but to quickly infiltrate the interior and solve the puzzles.

  Completion Guide

  1. Collect and Insert Power Canisters

  After entering, use the elevator to reach the upper area. You'll need to use melee attacks or shooting to forcefully break through the upper metal panels to find hidden Power Canisters(3 are needed; sometimes one is lying on the ground).

  The facility's high-temperature defense system will activate periodically (the interior will glow orange or blue). When the system activates, you must immediately find cover or temporarily leave to avoid being burned by the flames.

  Blue light indicates an impending EMP impact, which only breaks the shield without causing damage (you can remove the shield to become immune to damage).

  A flashing orange and red light accompanied by a rapid alarm indicates that a full-scale firestorm will occur in 3 seconds, instantly burning your character to death. You must immediately escape the cabin for safety.

  After successfully escaping, forcibly break open the slot at the bottom of the central pillar (Queen will release a brief stun current upon breaking it; it is recommended to remove your shield beforehand to prevent it from shattering). Insert all 3 collected Power Canisters into the connected terminal.

  2. Destroy the Yellow Button

  After inserting all Power Canisters, Harvester will completely shut down, and 3 separate reward containers will pop up around the central pillar. Opening these containers will give you a chance to obtain high-tier loot and the extremely rare weapon blueprints for ARC Raiders Jupiter, and Equalizer.

  To prevent enemy players from ambushing you outside, it is recommended that you immediately place the blueprints into a Safe Pocket and quickly head to the extraction point after obtaining them.

  Weapon Configurations

  Targeting the characteristics of Harvester Puzzle and for a safer extraction, here are two optimal weapon configurations after ARC Raiders 1.38.0 update. These configurations feature high burst damage, rapid shield breaking, and node-breaking kills, allowing you to more safely obtain Jupiter and Equalizer.

  First Configuration

  Primary Weapon: Renegade

  Renegade is the primary damage-dealing weapon, effectively dealing with Queen guarding the outside and large numbers of ARC robots. Its high single-shot damage and accuracy allow you to quickly clear the area before entering Harvester.

  Secondary Weapon: Stitcher

  Stitcher is primarily used for melee combat and emergency shield breaking, suitable for defense and quickly breaking shields in the event of sudden external conflicts.

  Second Configuration

  Primary Weapon: Renegade

  Same function as the first configuration, but easier to obtain and more suitable than other ARC Raiders Weapons with similar functions.

  Secondary Weapon: Scambler

  After planting all Power Canisters in the first step of Harvester Puzzle, a yellow node will pop up on the central pillar. Using Scambler at close range, you can kill a node in just two shots, making it faster and less strenuous.

  Besides weapons, there are some essential items that you should carry regardless of your build:

  Crowbar

  Used for quickly prying open vents to infiltrate and for prying open second-floor panels to retrieve Power Canisters.

  Surge Coil

  While prying or planting Power Canister, place it at the only main entrance and vents on the first floor of Harvester to effectively prevent other Raider teams from sneaking in and attacking.

  Looting Mk. 3 (Safekeeper)

  While regular safe pockets usually have restrictions on what items can be put in, ARC Raiders Looting Mk. 3 (Safekeeper) not only allows you to put in any item in the game, but you can also take the items out even if you are knocked down.

  Therefore, after completing Harvester Puzzle and obtaining Jupiter and Equalizer weapon blueprints, place them along with your primary weapon into Safe Pocket provided by Looting Mk. 3 (Safekeeper) to prevent them from being stolen.

  Since a Harvester Puzzle only rewards three chests, and only one Jupiter or Equalizer blueprint will appear at a time, if you are in a multiplayer group, only one person can obtain the blueprint. The player who doesn't get it needs to re-enter and try again.

  Therefore, some players prefer to operate solo, making the three ARC Raiders Items mentioned above essential. In addition, there are some tips suitable for solo players, the essence of which lies in avoiding combat, removing the shield, speed, and quick escape through tunnels.

  Tips

  1. Removing the Shield for Infiltration

  Observe the patrol routes of ARC Queen on the outer perimeter. The instant you enter the facility's main gate or ventilation shaft, immediately manually remove your shield from your inventory. This perfectly negates the severe stun and vulnerability caused by the pulse shield breaking.

  2. Quickly Transport Power Canisters

  After entering the first floor and picking up the canister in its designated location, quickly insert it. Then, take the elevator directly to the second floor and find the remaining two Power Canisters. Don't carry them up the stairs; throw them directly to the first floor.

  If you hear three alarms or the sealed compartment lights up with an orange-red light, don't hesitate; run.

  3. Instantly Eliminate Alarm Nodes

  Use ARC Raiders shotgun recommended in your weapon configuration. Run and fire simultaneously; you can clear the nodes in about three seconds.

  4. Instant Escape Through the Tunnel

  After solving the puzzle, open the two chests closest to you in the center. With luck, you might find the blueprint for either Jupiter or Equalizer. Once you find them, immediately put them in your Safe Pocket. Don't linger in the red zone; quickly move to the nearest Raider Hatch to escape.

  If your strength and time allow, you can also try defeating Queen outside, as it, being a high-level boss, has a chance to directly drop the blueprints for these two legendary weapons. Even without the blueprints, it will drop the rare material needed to craft these weapons - Queen Reactors.

  In short, if you want to quickly acquire the blueprints for Jupiter and Equalizer, or already own them but want to farm more for trading on the market, ARC Raiders Harvester Puzzle is your best choice.

• Struggling with ARC Raiders Season 5 Week 3 Jump Mine Trial? Stop Target Farming the Wrong Enemies!

  There are only three days left until the conclusion of Season 5 Week 3 Trials in ARC Raiders. How is your progress coming along? After all, completing all five missions with a three-star rating can be quite tricky.

  One specific trial requires you to eliminate enough ARC enemies using Jump Mines to earn a three-star rating. The challenge lies in selecting the right types of ARC and grouping them effectively to maximize explosive damage in a single blast.

  If this mission has stumped you and you haven't finished this week's trials yet, don't worry, we will provide a guide for you.

  

  Stocking up on Jump Mines

  Whether you've already mastered the technique or are still figuring out the best strategy for using Jump Mines, a key prerequisite is having plenty of mines at your disposal.

  In ARC Raiders, Jump Mine is technically an Explosive Mine; it earned the nickname Jump Mine because it suddenly pops up and detonates at close range to deal damage. They can be placed directly on the ground or on the bodies of large ARC units.

  This quick-use item can be scavenged or crafted once you've unlocked the blueprint and gathered the necessary materials.

  However, if you've already burned through your supply, the best way to ensure you finish the trial on time is to buy IGGM ARC Raiders Explosive Mines now!

  It's worth noting that Explosive Mine blueprint is currently available in Nomadic Envoy Ermal's shop; you can acquire it by turning in the required quantities of Leaper Pulse Units, Pop Triggers, and Steel Springs.

  You can gather many of these trade materials while completing another trial mission that requires dealing melee damage to ARC enemies. So, be sure to adopt a strategy that maximizes your returns while boosting combat efficiency.

  Which ARC units are the best targets?

  There is a wide variety of PvE enemies in ARC Raiders, making it difficult to decide which ones to target for this trial.

  There are two common strategies: setting traps or using yourself as bait to lure a group of small ARC units together for a mass explosion, or focusing on large ARC units and placing Explosive Mines on their most vulnerable core areas.

  We tested both approaches. Overall, the first method is less efficient, so it is better to focus your attention on the larger enemies.

  For instance, simply placing a single Jump Mine on a Bastion's core yields at least 800 trial points; naturally, placing more mines results in a significantly higher score.

  Compared to Bastion, ARC Raiders Bombardier has thinner armor and lacks an exposed core, so you can place mines directly on its back. The final point yield is roughly the same as that of Bastion.

  Another enemy worth considering is ARC Turbine. It usually soars through the air but slowly descends to the ground to attack as the current raid nears its end.

  Ideally, the strategy would be to predict where Turbine will land and pre-place a cluster of Jump Mines; when it touches down, the simultaneous detonation would deal massive damage instantly.

  However, in practice, the moment you start placing Jump Mines, or even just approach while holding them, Turbine becomes agitated and immediately launches an electric attack. This electricity can destroy the mines you've already placed, effectively ruling out this strategy.

  What about Shredder? These enemies move incredibly fast, making them easy to lure into traps. Placing about four Jump Mines in a trap beforehand yields excellent results.

  Since Shredders respawn continuously across the map, you can place new mines in the same trap after destroying one and lure nearby newly spawned enemies in; this saves you from wasting time running all over the map.

  Overall, while most large ARC units are viable targets, Shredders offer the best results.

  Best locations for Shredder spawns

  This enemy type appears primarily on Stella Montis map, which has around 20 spawn points. To maximize your Trial Point farming efficiency, provided you can handle the challenge, enter the map during a Night Raid condition, as enemy spawn rates increase then.

  When luring Shredders, maintain the right distance so they simply follow you without attacking. If they attack, you'll waste time eliminating them prematurely, and the mines won't be as effective.

  

  Other recommended gear

  To ensure you complete the trial missions and extract successfully, you should, in addition to the essential Explosive Mines, bring plenty of healing and shielding items.

  A key healing item to unlock is Adrenaline Shot; it restores your stamina while also boosting your subsequent stamina regeneration rate.

  As for shields, a medium-sized model is a solid choice. It is also highly recommended to equip Augments to enhance its overall performance.

  Another piece of essential gear is Photoelectric Cloak. It renders you undetectable to ARC enemies until your energy runs out, though the trade-off is that you must move slowly while using it.

  Regarding offensive weaponry, simply bring the weapons you are most proficient with; their primary roles are defending against potential PvP threats and finishing off ARC units.

  Options like Bobcat, Renegade, or Tempest work well. Of course, don't forget to upgrade them and equip attachments.

  We hope this guide helps you successfully complete all missions before the weekly trial ends. Gear up and head into battle at Stella Montis now!

• ARC Raiders Update 1.38.0 Review: Matchmaking Finally Gets Fixed, But that's Nowhere Near Enough

  Dear Raiders, the fourth Expedition Departure for ARC Raiders officially began yesterday. To be honest, every time Expedition is about to start in the game, players can't help but express in the community their expectations that the development team might create some surprises.

  And this isn't just hype; it's purely based on their understanding and experience of the game. They just feel that for such an important milestone as Expedition, the development team should at least include something new, right?

  Even if it's not a major update, a new Raider deck, some new ARC Raiders items to pick up, or even a backpack trinket would be great. Many veteran players, though they don't say it out loud, are secretly hoping for even a small update.

  However, perhaps because of previous disappointments, some players are saying, "Don't worry, it'll probably just be adding a couple of new colors to our skins and that's it." Or they're saying there will definitely be another round of Trials, but it'll likely be released with bugs.

  These jokes are quite disheartening. So, did the recent ARC Raiders Store Update 1.38.0 meet everyone's expectations?

  

  Update Content

  The update everyone was waiting for finally went live on July 21st: Store Update 1.38.0. And indeed, as some players predicted, this update added two new colorways to Torpedo set - Camo and Black.

  Frankly, this is just a cosmetic change and doesn't significantly affect how you play matches in ARC Raiders. The truly noteworthy change is the optimization of the matchmaking algorithm.

  The development team candidly stated in their announcement that they received numerous complaints from players regarding the quality of matchmaking, especially during off-peak hours, in certain regions, or under specific map conditions, where the match experience was indeed subpar.

  Therefore, starting July 21st, they will be testing a new matchmaking logic. Simply put, the algorithm might make you wait a little longer, but the goal is to match you with opponents of similar playstyles and team sizes, making matches fairer and more interesting.

  This change is actually quite crucial because ARC Raiders is a mix of PvPvE. The quality of matchmaking directly determines whether you encounter equally matched opponents, get crushed by skilled players, or have a very quiet match when you enter the map.

  The Gap Between Expectations and Reality

  The updated outfit colors and matchmaking algorithm seem fine on their own, but the problem is that Update 1.38.0, comprised of these two elements, completely fails to meet player expectations.

  Many players are complaining that after each Expedition, regardless of win or loss, they have to use the materials lost in Topside to upgrade their benches level by level.

  This is the fourth Expedition, and the situation has remained almost unchanged in ARC Raiders.

  What players truly want is something fresh and innovative that breaks the mold - like a new gun that makes the ubiquitous Bobcat and Vulcano no longer the only viable options.

  Or a new map mechanic that forces players to adjust their tactics from ARC Raiders.

  In short, only these things can make Expedition feel different and fresher than before.

  How can new outfit colors and matchmaking optimizations alone keep players motivated to log in during the long lull from July to October?

  The Main Event in October

  If we put ourselves in their shoes, we might understand that ARC Raiders development team is not unaware of the desire for a new design, but they have most likely focused their manpower on the major update in October of this year.

  The community is naturally placing incredibly high expectations on that October update, with some even jokingly saying it will not only save the game but also solve world peace.

  It's clear that most people are pinning their hopes on that moment, but with several months to go, the regular updates in between won't satisfy the players' desires.

  Many rational veteran players believe that once this Expedition ends, they should put ARC Raiders aside and play something else first.

  Don't mistake this for giving up; it's more like a smarter form of self-management - since there's no new work, I won't waste my time here, lest I burn out my last bit of enthusiasm for the game.

  Future Uncertainties

  Overall, it's not that ARC Raiders development team isn't working, nor that players are too picky. Rather, the current timing is indeed delicate and awkward, and games that focus on PvPvE inherently need a constant influx of fresh content.

  Outfit color updates and matchmaking optimizations are routine game maintenance procedures and have their value, but expecting them to sustain the hype during a months-long hiatus is unrealistic.

  Whether the highly anticipated major update in October will deliver the new map, weapon balance improvements, and system overhaul everyone is hoping for remains to be seen.

  For veteran players who have already spent hundreds of hours in ARC Raiders, they need to see some noteworthy new changes in the game. Only in this way can Expedition not just be a repetition, but truly the beginning of a new journey.

  And only in this way will those who decide to leave ARC Raiders temporarily be willing to download the game again and return to this familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar battlefield when October truly arrives!

• Does ARC Raiders Need a PvE Mode? | Community Demand, Developer Signals, and Future Possibilities

  It must be admitted that ever since the developers announced the next major update for ARC Raiders would not arrive for several months, the online player count has been declining in a way that seems impossible to curb.

  Although roughly ten thousand loyal players still remain in the game each day, the in-game environment has suffered serious damage, which has sparked a recurring topic among the community: does ARC Raiders need a dedicated PvE mode?

  

  Official Signals

  When it comes to a PvE mode, the developers' own moves are far more telling than any speculation on our part. And in the face of shrinking active numbers, there are signs that they are indeed considering a pure PvE offering.

  THE FINALS

  Even though ARC Raiders has not yet received a PvE mode, THE FINALS - a title that leans more heavily into PvP - has actually introduced PvE first.

  AI opponents in THE FINALS are no pushovers; you cannot treat them as mindless bots, because their aim is actually quite impressive.

  But the real question is why the developers would roll out a PvE mode in THE FINALS rather than in ARC Raiders, where the community has been clamouring for it far more loudly.

  This might be a harbinger for ARC Raiders' own PvE future. The PvE mode in THE FINALS could serve as an early test run, given that ARC Raiders features larger maps and much more complex environments. The team can first gauge AI performance and appropriate difficulty levels in THE FINALS, so that when such systems eventually appear in ARC Raiders, they will feel more natural.

  Rebellion Incident

  If we look further back, a PvE-style mode has actually already gone live in China. Notably, this was not developed by the official studio, but rather by a Chinese workshop.

  Rebellion Incident is a highly creative map condition that carries PvE traits. At the start of a match, all players are in a non-hostile state by default, unable to harm each other, unless you actively choose to become a rogue.

  You can voluntarily activate the rogue status. Once activated, your backpack lights up with a red warning beacon, making it clear to everyone around you that you have turned hostile.

  As a rogue, you can attack anyone, but anyone can also attack you. For those who have not turned rogue, it is very easy to figure out who the target should be.

  This mode is currently available only on Chinese servers, and for players who do not understand Chinese, trying to join those servers is quite challenging. Whether this mode will eventually come to European and North American servers - well, it is certainly a possibility.

  Official Stance

  There is, in fact, some pessimistic news: the creative director of ARC Raiders had already made their position very clear. They stated that they would not introduce a PvE mode, because they wanted players to remain under constant pressure during matches, always on guard against threats from both ARC and other players. A pure PvE mode, in their view, would run counter to their design philosophy.

  If that were all you knew, you would certainly think that a PvE mode was off the table. But times have changed. When that statement was made, the player base of ARC Raiders was at its peak; now the numbers have dwindled to only a fraction of that, and keeping the game alive has become the most pressing concern for the development team.

  A major reason for the sharp drop in ARC Raiders' population is simply that the developers cannot produce content fast enough. Neither the maps nor the loot collection can offer players anything fresh anymore, and placing the next significant update several months down the line was hardly a wise decision.

  If the team lacks enough developers to create brand-new content, then consistently introducing new modes is probably the best way to sustain the game's momentum. Designing new map conditions on top of existing environments does not consume too many extra art resources, so this is well within their reach. And the PvE mode that the community has been asking for so loudly is one such solution.

  Why No PvE Mode Yet?

  But a PvE mode is not simply a matter of turning off PvP damage; there are more nuanced issues to consider.

  The first question is whether the inventory for the PvE mode should be separate from that of the main mode. It is hard to ensure that the difficulty levels of PvE and the core mode remain equivalent. If the gap in difficulty is large, players might grind for ARC Raiders items in the easier mode and then take them into the harder mode for combat.

  If the two inventories are not shared, that forces players to engage with both sets of content. And if the rewards differ between the two modes, that could create FOMO and add extra pressure on players.

  Benefits of a PvE Mode

  Although a PvE mode cannot solve every problem that ARC Raiders faces, it could certainly bring back those players who have already quit but originally loved the game.

  Moreover, there are millions of players in the market who enjoy cooperative, open-world looter-shooters and co-op multiplayer experiences - they may never have tried an extraction shooter precisely because they know PvP is not their cup of tea. A PvE mode could change that.

  With endgame content, PvE, and more map conditions , ARC Raiders has every chance to reclaim its former glory and attract hundreds of thousands of players again. All of that hinges on whether the developers can stay committed and truly deliver a transformative change with October update.

• ARC Raiders Expedition 4 Departure Window Bug Being Resolved | No Need to Worry about the Game's Future Just Yet!

  While there haven't been any major updates to ARC Raiders recently, meaning there are no complex new mechanics to master, players still need to stay alert for changes caused by routine updates or bugs.

  For instance, a registration issue recently cropped up, likely due to the impending end of Expedition 4 window and the developers' recent focus on tackling cheaters.

  Here, we'll cover the details of this bug and its fix, and analyze the game's potential trajectory leading up to the major October update.

  

  What is Expedition 4 window departure bug?

  This window began on July 7 and concludes the next Monday, July 21. Players who hit specific damage output targets during this period earn permanent rewards that become available after the next reset.

  However, a bug surfaced a couple of days ago: if a player hit the 100,000 damage target, the system would sometimes automatically register them for a departure without their input.

  While many players might have intended to sign up anyway, others might have had different plans, such as simply testing their maximum damage output without intending to commit to a full expedition.

  Has the bug been fixed?

  To address this, ARC Raiders development team rolled out a fix to cancel these automatic registrations, processing the changes in batches starting at 10:00 AM (UK time) on July 17. Consequently, the issue may already be resolved for some players.

  That said, the fix arrived quite late, and there is a chance some players might have been missed before the weekend. If you want your registration cancelled but haven't seen the change take effect, it is best to contact the development team directly to resolve the issue.

  Even if you weren't affected by the bug because you haven't hit the target yet, don't let your guard down; if you do plan to join a Departure, time is running out to rack up that required damage!

  To deal enough damage within the allotted time, you need to choose the right enemy types and combat zones, as well as the appropriate weaponry.

  If your preferred strategy involves using ARC Assessors to lure in swarms of smaller enemies for a concentrated takedown, then a good supply of grenades paired with high-fire-rate ARC Raiders items, such as the Bobcat, makes for an ideal setup.

  Once enemies have gathered, start by throwing a grenade or detonating a pre-planted mine to deal widespread damage; then, while ensuring your own safety, use Bobcat's high rate of fire to take out any stragglers.

  However, keep in mind that high-fire-rate SMGs like Bobcat often suffer from inherently poor accuracy, so it is best to equip reliable attachments to boost its overall effectiveness.

  PvE mode is unlikely to be added in the short term

  Although ARC Raiders is a PvPvE game, its unique world-building has led players to call for a standalone PvE mode ever since its launch.

  In the Chinese closed beta version released in June, ARC Raiders introduced Rebellion Incident as a special new game mode. While not strictly a pure PvE mode, it offers significant autonomy, meaning you can decide for yourself whether to engage in PvP chaos.

  Consequently, many Western players are eager for the development team to bring this feature to the global servers, or introduce something similar, to fill the gap before the next major update.

  Unfortunately, this hope is likely to go unfulfilled, at least in the short term, because The Finals, another first-person shooter from the same development team, has recently added a PvE mode.

  While the gameplay differs, the core mechanics are very similar; launching PvE modes for both games in quick succession would inevitably split the player base and hurt the performance of The Finals.

  Speaking of Rebellion Incident, the mode has also drawn some global server players to try out the Chinese version. Since the Chinese version is still in beta, the mode has its rough edges, but it serves as a fun diversion while waiting for the official update on global servers.

  Don't panic over the drop in player numbers

  The lack of updates has caused a sharp decline in ARC Raiders' concurrent player count. Even if you think you can tide yourself over until October by just doing daily tasks, you might worry the game will die out before then.

  However, even without changes to the update schedule, it is perfectly normal for a major live-service game to experience high player attrition after its post-launch peak.

  Rather than a sign of decline, this trend reflects a natural, inevitable pattern. Take Helldivers 2, a game in a similar situation to ARC Raiders, as an example: although its current player count has dropped significantly from its peak, the numbers still surge whenever a new update is released.

  Therefore, the key issue isn't the decline in concurrent players, but rather whether the remaining core player base is cohesive enough to quickly return once ARC Raiders launches new updates.

  The Finals, which comes from the same development team, saw its peak concurrent player count hit over 200,000, only to lose nearly 79% of its players within three months, a much more drastic trend than what ARC Raiders has experienced.

  However, following the recent launch of a new season and an ARC Raiders crossover, The Finals saw a substantial rebound in player numbers.

  So, provided the subsequent content is of high quality, ARC Raiders can still achieve a genuine resurgence, at least, that is the current expectation.

  We hope the information shared here proves useful for your future ARC Raiders experience. Thank you for reading.

• ARC Raiders after Denuvo Anti-Cheat | Has the Cheating Crisis Finally Been Solved?

  ARC Raiders has long been plagued by cheaters. By mid-June, the vast majority of matches saw players encountering disruptive cheaters, and that harassment drove a portion of the player base to quit.

  The official response came in June 30 update, which rolled out Denuvo Anti-Cheat for all players. But has the measure actually worked? Has the cheating situation truly been brought under control?

  

  What Is Denuvo Anti-Cheat?

  Many players may still be unclear about what Denuvo Anti-Cheat really is. In simple terms, it is a highly intrusive anti-cheat program, similar to Vanguard anti-cheat system, and both operate with extremely high system privileges.

  Denuvo Anti-Cheat can access nearly everything on your computer, all the way down to the system level. It is a kernel-level anti-cheat solution with ring-zero permissions.

  Unlike Vanguard, Denuvo Anti-Cheat is only installed and activated when you access multiplayer features. Even so, this represents the highest level of intrusion achievable in the anti-cheat field.

  Given the rampant cheating in ARC Raiders, less intrusive anti-cheat systems have fundamental limitations.

  You can think of your computer as an onion-like security system with multiple layers of defense. If a malicious program hides closer to the center of that onion, the outer layers cannot reach it. A great many cheating programs prefer to lodge themselves in the deepest system layers, and only kernel-level anti-cheat can penetrate those levels to detect violations effectively.

  The officials have stated that they will not use Denuvo's DRM service, because that service can significantly drag down frame rates when it malfunctions. As a result, players should basically not encounter frame drops or other performance issues during gameplay.

  Has Denuvo Anti-Cheat Been Effective?

  Item Duplication

  First, it is worth clarifying which players ARC Raiders is focusing on. Those using cheating software are certainly among them, followed by players who maliciously exploit game glitches.

  The most classic example is the item duplication glitch, which can severely disrupt the game's economy. Previously, players exploited a vulnerability that made rubber ducks essentially worthless.

  The officials have never seemed able to fully fix the item duplication problem. Even after Patch 1.37.0, players could still find ways to duplicate items.

  Although the officials could not immediately patch the vulnerability, they could at least take action against those who exploited it. If player data shows anomalies, they can easily identify the offenders.

  In Patch 1.37.0 announcement, the officials stated that they had launched a wave of account suspensions and inventory confiscations. Penalties included warnings, seizure of all illicitly obtained in-game currency and items, and account bans.

  The officials indicated that players who inadvertently came into contact with duplicated items would most likely not face bans. Enforcement efforts were aimed primarily at those who deliberately and severely abused the glitch.

  These efforts have yielded results. According to official data, the proportion of players suspected of using duplication exploits has dropped to below 1 percent, the lowest level in several months.

  Cheating players

  Beyond the duplication glitch, the official anti-cheat team has identified and taken down the largest cheat tool maker, which served thousands of users.

  At present, only ARC Raiders has successfully fended off this particular cheat tool. Other popular titles such as Marvel Rivals, Delta Force, and Apex Legends remain plagued by the same tool.

  However, this is only a temporary victory. The battle between the development team and cheat creators has always been a back-and-forth struggle.

  The Impact of Mass Ban Waves

  The officials have not only taken action against cheat software providers but have also rolled out large-scale ban waves that removed a great number of offending players. Yet this move has produced a side effect: a notable drop in the player count, because many of the banned accounts were part of the active player community.

  ARC Raiders' daily active player count on Steam has fallen to around 16,000. That is the lowest figure the game has ever recorded, and it had never dropped to such a low level in any previous operational cycle.

  While Steam data does not reflect the player numbers on consoles, Steam remains a major gaming platform, so the downward trend there still offers a useful reference.

  On the other hand, the cheat tool makers may have slowed their development precisely because ARC Raiders' player base has shrunk. If the player count rebounds, new cheating methods will likely emerge as well.

  Server Instability

  Some players believe that Denuvo Anti-Cheat causes game instability, but in reality the issue stems from the game servers themselves.

  Despite ARC Raiders' large player base, it has actually been sharing server infrastructure with THE FINALS. When THE FINALS servers encounter problems, ARC Raiders often goes down at the same time.

  Unless the officials decide to separate the two server systems, this problem will probably remain difficult to resolve completely.

  ARC Raiders is going through a difficult period. While the officials' anti-cheat efforts are commendable, the game still faces multiple challenges, including a lack of content, server instability, and player attrition. Perhaps October update can rescue ARC Raiders, but it will also have to contend with competition from other games.

  ---

  Currently, there are no known item duplication exploits, and cheaters have been banned; this may well be the cleanest state ARC Raiders has ever been in.

  You can buy ARC Raiders blueprints from IGGM to make weapon and return to explore the wastelands of Speranza. However, you cannot let your guard down completely - while the cheaters have been banned, rats are still lurking everywhere.