Arc Raiders appears to be turning the tide in its battle against cheaters. In a wide-ranging interview with IGN published this week, Embark Studios CEO Patrick Söderlund shared that the team has banned "tens of thousands" of players since cracking down on cheating exploits, a move that comes after weeks of vocal complaints from the player base.
The issue gained significant attention roughly a month ago when viral clips highlighted rampant cheating in matches, with some content creators drawing comparisons to Call of Duty's ongoing struggles with hackers and modded controllers. Players expressed frustration over unfair advantages disrupting the extraction shooter's core loop of scavenging, raiding, and escaping with loot. In response, Embark addressed the community directly through a Discord message from community admin Ossen.
"We’ve seen the discussion around the topic of cheaters in ARC Raiders," Ossen wrote at the time. "Please know that we are taking this issue very seriously and are listening to, and acting on, your feedback." The studio outlined plans that included updating anti-cheat detection, deploying client-side fixes to address exploits like out-of-map glitches, and introducing tools to help streamers avoid stream sniping.
Söderlund's comments provide the first concrete update on the results of those efforts. "We have been pretty aggressive on this," he said. "The game wasn't prone to so many cheaters in the beginning, but as with all multiplayer games that get successful, this becomes a component, unfortunately."
He went on to explain the challenge of maintaining an edge over cheat developers, likening it to defending against DDoS attacks. "For us as developers, just like a DDoS attack, it's one of these things that you just have to try and be a step ahead." The CEO noted that the volume of appeals and claims of innocence from banned players serves as a clear indicator that the bans are hitting their mark. "We've started banning players, and why do I know that? Because I see an influx of people trying to get to the studio, and to me. 'Oh, I didn't do anything.' We're seeing a pretty substantial change in that, but I know that we have banned probably tens of thousands of players so far, that I know."
Söderlund was careful to acknowledge the risk of mistakes in the system. He emphasized that Embark prioritizes fairness and is prepared to reverse bans when evidence shows an error occurred. "Again, we need to make sure that we get it right. That we are fair, and that, in the case where it's clear that we didn't get it right, that we can quickly remedy the situation so that player isn't affected in an unfair fashion or way."
The studio has already implemented additional measures, including restrictions on Steam Family Sharing to prevent banned accounts from accessing the game through shared libraries. While some players have pushed for immediate permanent bans rather than a three-strike system that includes temporary suspensions, Embark's approach reflects a balance between deterrence and due process.
Cheating remains a persistent challenge across many online multiplayer titles. Activision recently expanded Call of Duty's enforcement to target devices like Cronus Zen and XIM Matrix, which offer unauthorized advantages such as reduced recoil and enhanced aim assist. Similar issues plague games like Rust, where developers combat aimbots and wallhacks, and MMORPGs like Old School RuneScape, where macros and bots undermine fair play.
For Arc Raiders, the aggressive stance on cheating aligns with its broader success as a live-service extraction shooter. The game has drawn strong player numbers since launch, and Söderlund has discussed plans for ongoing content updates, live-service features, and even the studio's work on two new projects funded in part by the title's performance.
As Embark continues to refine its anti-cheat tools and respond to player feedback, the hope is that legitimate players can focus on the tense raids, team coordination, and high-stakes extractions that make Arc Raiders stand out. With tens of thousands already removed and more measures in place, the studio shows it's committed to protecting the experience for everyone who plays by the rules. Whether this leads to a noticeable improvement in match quality remains to be seen, but the early signs point to a more secure environment moving forward. Will this be enough or will the war never end? Most likely it is a never ending battle.
The surface is calling; your adventure starts now. As a Raider, prepare to leave the safety of Speranza’s settlements to scavenge the ruins above. ARC machines are a threat, but every run to the surface offers a chance to build something new. Battle for high stakes loot and risk it all in this expansion Extraction Adventure from Embark Studios. Your journey is just beginning.