Arc Raiders developer Embark is tightening its approach to cheating. After previously reserving permanent bans for the most serious or repeat offenders, the studio now says any account caught using cheats will be removed immediately: “no warnings, no second chances.”
In a post ahead of the October 8 update, Embark’s Aleks Grøndal addressed the growing frustration surrounding cheating. The developer says it is tackling third-party cheat software with external detection tools, in-house machine-learning models and other data-driven systems designed to identify suspicious behaviour quickly. Embark also plans to add further software, including Elytra Anti-Cheat.
This is another significant development in the wider arcade and gaming news landscape, where fair competition and reliable online systems remain important to players.
Permanent bans, including hardware bans
Embark admits it was initially too cautious about permanently banning first-time offenders. The studio says feedback from the community changed its position, and permanent bans are now standard for all known cheat programs. Any account confirmed to be using cheats will be permanently banned under the revised policy.
The punishment can also extend to the player’s hardware. Hardware bans are intended to stop offenders from simply creating a new account, and Embark says it has recently lowered the threshold for applying this type of restriction.
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Why suspicious players are not banned instantly
Embark says its anti-cheat systems cannot permanently ban somebody the moment one action appears suspicious. Acting too quickly could wrongly punish legitimate players, so the system examines behaviour across multiple incidents before reaching a high-confidence decision.
Once the evidence shows that fair play has been compromised, a permanent ban is issued. The team also monitors streams and uploaded videos, allowing it to investigate obvious cheating seen outside the automated detection process.
Action against queue teaming
Cheating is not the only conduct being targeted. “Queue teaming” involves players deliberately entering the same solo lobby and cooperating against people playing fairly.
Embark says it has begun separating groups known to engage in this behaviour. Five days after the change, the studio reported 85 percent fewer players taking part in queue teaming. Spoiled raids reportedly fell from about one in 50 to one in 300, without a meaningful effect on queue times.
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Frozen Trail arrives on October 8
The next major content release, October 8’s update, is called Frozen Trail. It introduces the cold-weather Pendola Pass map, a large vessel named the Frigate to infiltrate, and several new enemies.
Those enemies include the four-legged Bully, the stealth-focused Skulker and the stationary Hydra turret. The update also adds new weapons and a grappling hook, which can help players collect distant items and move around the environment.
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Embark’s message is clear: confirmed cheating now carries an immediate permanent penalty, with hardware restrictions available when necessary. The studio’s challenge will be maintaining that firm stance while ensuring its detection systems continue to distinguish deliberate cheating from legitimate play.
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