ARC Raiders players are calling on Embark Studios to address a frustrating new bug that can result in unavoidable deaths during raids. The issue surfaced after the recent Flashpoint update and has quickly become a point of irritation for the community, especially given the game’s otherwise strong post-launch support.
The bug affects interactions with the small but dangerous Tick enemies. Normally, players can remove a Tick by performing a dodge roll or pressing the designated button (Square on PlayStation, X on Xbox). However, when a player is holding a battery or field crate, neither method works. The Tick remains attached, steadily draining health until the player is downed. A Reddit clip shared by one affected player shows the helpless situation in action, with the raider unable to shake off the parasite and ultimately accepting their fate. Check out the bug in action below:
PSA: getting attacked by a Tick while holding a battery = unavoidable death
by u/T0PFL0 in ArcRaiders
Community members have attempted to find workarounds, such as rebinding the drop action to a different key, but so far no reliable solution has emerged. Most agree that only a proper hotfix from Embark can resolve the problem.
This is not the first technical issue players have encountered since ARC Raiders launched in October 2025. The game has seen out-of-bounds exploits, UI problems, and occasional bugs preventing participation in seasonal Expeditions. While Embark has been responsive with regular Tuesday patches and larger content updates, the accumulation of smaller frustrations is beginning to wear on some players.
The Flashpoint update itself was largely well-received for adding the challenging Close Scrutiny map condition, the deadly Vaporizer enemy, new weapons, and improved crafting quality-of-life features. However, it also introduced or exposed the Tick bug, leading some to feel the patch traded one set of problems for another.
Separately, a vocal group of players is asking Embark to revert a sound design change made in the same update. The Rocketeer enemy’s audio was altered, and many now find it too similar to the new Vaporizer, causing confusion during chaotic fights. The request to restore the original Rocketeer sound has gained traction in community discussions.
Embark’s next major content drop, Riven Tides, is scheduled for the end of April and is expected to bring a new map, a new map condition, and a large-scale ARC enemy (widely speculated to be the Emperor). While the studio has not yet commented publicly on the Tick bug or the Rocketeer sound complaints, players hope these smaller issues will be addressed in one of the weekly patches before the bigger update arrives.
Despite these technical hiccups, ARC Raiders continues to enjoy strong player retention and critical praise. The game won Best Multiplayer at The Game Awards 2025 and has sold millions of copies, proving its core extraction shooter loop remains highly appealing. Embark’s willingness to communicate through dev blogs and regular updates has helped maintain goodwill, but the community is clearly eager for faster resolution on bugs that directly impact gameplay fairness.
For players currently running into the Tick issue, the best immediate advice is to avoid picking up batteries or field crates when Ticks are present in the area, though this is far from an ideal solution during intense extractions. Many are simply hoping Embark prioritizes a fix in the next patch cycle.
As ARC Raiders moves into the second half of 2026, the studio’s ability to maintain a smooth experience while delivering ambitious content like Riven Tides will be key to long-term success. The Tick bug and sound complaints are relatively minor in the grand scheme, but they highlight the importance of polish in a live-service extraction shooter where every death feels costly.
If you enjoy seeing new bugs, we also recently covered a bug that will make players immune to fire damage in Arc Raiders.
Fans remain optimistic that Embark will continue its pattern of listening to feedback and iterating quickly. In the meantime, raiders are advised to stay vigilant around Ticks and maybe hold off on picking up that battery until the area is clear.