Embark Studios has responded to player complaints about cheating in the popular extraction shooter Arc Raiders by announcing significant anti-cheat updates. The developer plans to implement new detection tools and fixes over the next few weeks. High-profile streamers have voiced frustration with the issue, highlighting its impact on gameplay.
Arc Raiders, a top extraction shooter hit of 2025, has seen a surge in popularity, reaching a peak of 3.2 million daily active users earlier this month and outperforming all other games on Steam during the two-week holiday period. However, this success has attracted cheaters, prompting vocal backlash from the community, including prominent streamers like Ninja, Shroud, and Nadeshot.
On January 9, 2026, Embark Studios' community lead OssenJ addressed the concerns in a message on the game's official Discord server. "We've seen the discussion around the topic of cheaters in Arc Raiders," the statement read. "Please know that we are taking this issue very seriously and are listening to, and acting on your feedback. Over the next few weeks, we are implementing significant changes to our rulesets and deploying new detection mechanisms to identify and remove cheaters. This includes updating our Anti-Cheat systems for improved detection and bans, as well as applying client-side fixes specifically addressing the 'out of map glitch.' Furthermore, we are introducing tools for streamers to help mitigate stream sniping."
The response comes after a delay attributed to the team's winter vacation, as Embark, a Swedish studio and subsidiary of Nexon, works to catch up. Nadeshot, in a tweet on January 4, 2026, described his recent experience as "hell," praising the game as a personal top 10 but criticizing the cheating as worse than peak Call of Duty. He suggested Embarck consider legal actions against cheat providers, similar to Epic Games' approach with Fortnite.
Additionally, CEO Patrick Söderlund recently disclosed the introduction of aggression-based matchmaking, which remains skill-based but factors in players' likelihood to engage in fights. While a firm rollout timetable for the anti-cheat measures remains undisclosed, the updates aim to restore fair play for the game's growing player base, potentially benefiting PvE-focused players through improved matchmaking.
