Arc Raiders: When Every Run Is a Surprise

I jumped back into Arc Raiders after spending over 20 hours with Marathon’s Server Slam. With the second Expedition finally leaving Speranza, I had a fresh account with new bonuses and a clean stash.

I’m back to square one for the second time, and the first hour with the game reminded me how special this extraction shooter still is months after launch.

A game of random encounters

In my first run, I kept things simple. I entered the first map, Dam Battlegrounds, with a basic kit (Not a free kit, I need that safe pocket). The objective was straightforward: gather basic materials.

Ten minutes later, my bag was full and I extracted without encountering another player, even though I could hear gunshots nearby and see flares in the distance.

Game two, I went back to Dam. I witnessed a backstab unfold in real time, one player saying not to shoot while the other agreed, only to fire anyway. I rushed toward the chaos and shot the backstabber before he could recover.

Both players went down, with one thanking me over voice chat. I grabbed their loot and left.

Game three took me to the Spaceport map to change things up, still focused on gathering materials since I needed to get my workshops online.

The first five minutes were smooth. I spotted another raider, and we both hesitated before silently agreeing not to shoot. Reasonable enough.

As I walked toward a warehouse, a hail of bullets suddenly dropped me to 20% health with no shields. An ambush. A player positioned above the warehouse kept the pressure on, following up with what felt like every grenade in their backpack. I was stunned, stuck by an explosive device, and finished off shortly after.

Fair game. Time to move on.

That loss made me eager to fight, so I queued into Stella Montis, a close-quarters map known for heavy PvP. I brought a basic kit, hoping to secure an item in my safe pocket slot in case I found my first blueprint.

To my surprise, I entered a friendly lobby. No one was shooting each other. Players ran around looting, occasionally grouping up to take down any Shredder that spawned. After the fights earlier, I had somehow landed in a PvE-style lobby.

I left with enough loot to get at least half my workshops online.

I have more stories from additional runs topside, but the point is how different every match feels. The uncertainty is Arc Raiders’ real strength as I can never accurately predict how a run will play out.

Aggressive Matchmaking is a thing, but Still Unpredictable

Arc Raiders players peacefully lining up to get an objective done.

As I play more of the game, I come to realize that many that prefer the PvE aspect of the game lean too heavily on the matchmaking system in place. If previous raids were you shooting ARC and never engaging with players, they instantly assume the next games will be friendly lobbies.

Yes, this is accurate as you are more likely to be paired with players that don’t shoot first. But it’s not 100% accurate.

This results in weird conversation with players through proximity chat. I get ambushed, fair game, but when I get the upper hand because I want to engage in a gun fight, I more often than not have someone complaining that I shot them.

”Why shoot me? I’m just a free loadout?”, “Enjoy my Rattler 1”, “Don’t be that guy”.

The community has created players who treat PvP in Arc Raiders like a crime. White knights coming to save the downed player, or whining that You’re a “rat” for “camping”. It’s a weird mentality that slowly evolved within the community. Just earlier, as I finish this post, I heard two people arguing as to why he shot him in Stella Montis, with the one downed shouting for help while the other claims “he shot first”.

Arc Raiders is an anomaly in the extraction shooter space. A space where a single mistake can make you lose it all, and that it’s very much possible that there’s someone lurking in the dark, waiting to cut your escape. That’s usually the game, which is why it’s a niche space that doesn’t attract the casual crowd. But Arc Raiders has, and if Embark manages the expectations of both sides, this game could be played for years to come.

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About the Author - Carlos Hernandez

Carlos Hernandez is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Too Much Gaming, where he writes about video games, reviews, and industry news. A lifelong gamer, he would do anything to experience Final Fantasy Tactics for the first time again and has a love/hate relationship with games that require hunting for new gear to improve your character.