ARC Raiders have reported players purposefully griefing the experimental PvE mode in creative ways. Find out how some Raiders are ruining the fun for everyone else in this limited-time friendly mode.
ARC Raiders Players Report Griefing in PvE Test
Shady Behavior Is Left Unchecked
ARC Raiders players report being trapped in shelters, pushed away from loot, prevented from extracting, and subjected to other forms of griefing during the game’s PvE test. Running from October 13–20, the toggle disables player damage, reflecting developer Embark’s efforts to accommodate its growing cooperative audience, with over half of surveyed players expressing interest in a dedicated PvE mode. However, this didn’t stop bad actors from finding other ways to grief fellow Raiders.
Dozens of players on the ARC Raiders subreddit quickly documented their bad encounters in PvE mode. One increasingly common way to grief is that a small group of coordinated Raiders will block doorways, ladders, and exits, trapping players inside. Some are content to block the path, while others use the opportunity to demand the occupant’s loot before clearing the way. Players are warned to be especially vigilant when entering snow shelters in Pendola Pass, the newest map that launched alongside the Frozen Trail update.
PvE mode has also left players called loot goblins or opportunists unchecked. These players, who usually wait near high-value locked rooms or ARCs without contributing before taking the loot, have become more brazen, often hiding near Harvester events and are waiting to swoop in and collect valuable reactors from the nearby Queen. Many players have been hesitant to use their keys for locked rooms because would-be looters often wait nearby to rush inside. Additionally, griefers have used Bull Rush, a skill meant to shove enemies, to push other Raiders away from containers and extraction points.
Apparently, others have also encountered Raiders who refuse to help a downed player and instead wait near the body to loot it, with one witness describing four Raiders surrounding it like vultures. More posts say that griefers have taken to luring ARCs to speed up the process and will even lead these hostile machines near extraction points to prevent escape.
Some Griefers Are Allegedly Sabotaging the PvE Test
These underhanded playstyles already existed in the normal game. Still, some players believe the disruption is intended to make the PvE test fail, as comments on social media like X (Twitter) and Reddit openly discussed griefing even before the special event dropped. Thus, players already anticipated behaviors such as stealing loot without repercussions.
Critics of a separate PvE mode argue that removing hostile encounters changes what makes ARC Raiders compelling, as deciding whether to trust a stranger carries different stakes when they cannot shoot back. For others, it’s simply boring, calling it an RNG looter simulator because the ARCs don’t pose an immediate threat. Embark acknowledged similar potential effects on tension, matchmaking, and the economy in a previous blog post about the toggle, causing them to adjust ARC behavior and loot quality in the separate mode.
PvE Mode Still Brought Many Raiders Back
Despite the backlash and griefing reports, many other players posting about the test are enjoying the change. The PvE community has welcomed being able to tackle tougher ARC alongside friends without worrying about hostile Raiders, while others have used the mode to finish long unfinished quests. It has even brought back a surge of returning players, with Reddit commenters saying they returned specifically to try the new mode.
On SteamDB, the Frozen Trail update, the recent free weekend, and this PvE mode pushed the game to a peak of over 164,000 players on October 13. That's much higher than last month's peak of 39,900, as the game has been struggling to maintain its massive player base since launch.
The PVE test is scheduled to end on October 20. Embark says it will assess player feedback and gameplay data before deciding what comes next. Whether it’s griefing, fighting ARC, or having fun with friends, these are all valuable points Embark can use to tune the mode if it ever becomes a permanent fixture in ARC Raiders. Check out our review for ARC Raiders below:
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ARC Raiders PvE beta test
ARC Raiders SteamDB Charts
Watch out for snow pods on PVE
Raiders wait near a locked room
Some comments on Reddit discuss sabotaging PvE
