ARC Raiders underwent a major update today as Embark Studios delivered Headwinds, the first of four content drops coming between now and April. It introduced seven new quests, a minor map condition, two new Augments, and some other bits and pieces. The team at Embark also revealed that, very soon, a new anti-cheat ban system will be implemented to combat malicious players.
In a footnote in the patch notes for the recent ARC Raiders update, the team explained that a permaban is the result of a cheating spree, but players don’t think getting to that point is happening fast enough for it to be effective.
Does ARC Raiders Need Tougher Anti-Cheat?
Over the festive period, ARC Raiders players were suffering under the weight of exploits, cheaters, and a bit of content stagnation brought on by everyone at Embark Studios going off on a well-deserved break.
Now that they’re back, a massive roadmap has been revealed, detailing content up to April 2026.
Today, the first part of that roadmap, an update dubbed ‘Headwinds’, was delivered. It introduced some fresh content, a map condition that fills Buried City with birds, and seven short new quests for players to conquer. It effectively opens up some of the game’s lore, too.
However, one element in the recent patch notes hasn’t filled players with the joy that the positive notes have.
Almost at the end of the update, it was written:
A three strikes progressive ban system is in the process of being implemented. Bans will progress from 30 days, to 60 and finally a permaban for repeat offenders.
Those who tussled with these more malicious players in recent weeks feel that the ban loop isn’t strong enough for anyone caught cheating. The item was subtitled ‘Anti-Cheat’, but it reads like this is a general approach to banning players caught breaking the rules, and not just cheaters.
In any case, a cheater being banned for just 30 days feels like little more than a slap on the wrist. The second infraction earns them a 60-day penalty, but it takes three offences for them to receive a permanent ban. That’s three times that somebody could be caught using cheats to manipulate the game before Embark Studios says, ‘Enough.’
Other extraction shooters, like Escape from Tarkov, issue permanent bans upon a single detection of cheating, and they publicly reveal which users have been kicked from the game. Sure, they might make a new account and come back, but the strong-arm approach is there at the initial stage.
Do you think ARC Raiders needs tougher anti-cheat, and that Embark Studios is risking displeasing the majority of its userbase? Let us know your thoughts on the Insider Gaming Discord server.
For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that a Black Flag remake statue has apparently appeared
Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
More from Grant Taylor-Hill
