ARC Raiders Pushes Players Toward Teamwork With New Event

Embark Studios has launched a new event in ARC Raiders designed to shift how players interact with each other in the extraction shooter. The Shared Watch Event, running from February 10 to February 24, rewards players who work together against the game's mechanical enemies rather than attacking each other.

The move comes as the developer addresses what it sees as a growing tension in the game. Some players want to focus entirely on fighting the massive ARC machines that populate the game world. Others prefer to hunt down fellow raiders who are trying to complete their missions. Rather than forcing players into one playstyle through strict matchmaking rules, Embark Studios decided to try something different: make cooperation more rewarding.

Background

ARC Raiders launched in October 2025 as a PvPvE extraction shooter, meaning players face off against both artificial intelligence enemies and other human players. The game follows a familiar formula: squads drop into robot-infested ruins, gather resources and loot, and try to escape before being killed. If a player dies, they lose everything they collected during that run.

This creates natural tension between players. Some want to avoid conflict and focus on collecting resources. Others see other raiders as targets. The unpredictability of who will cooperate and who will shoot on sight has become a core part of the game's appeal, creating memorable moments of brief alliances between strangers who could betray each other at any moment.

However, this same tension has also created friction within the player base. Embark Studios recognized that some players felt frustrated by constant attacks from other raiders, while others felt the game was pushing them toward cooperation when they wanted a more competitive experience.

Key Details

The Shared Watch Event takes a carrot-rather-than-stick approach to the problem. Players who focus on fighting ARC units during the event period unlock special items, earn Raider Tokens, and make progress toward a new cosmetic set called The Slugger.

Rewards are tied to earning Merits, which players gain by earning experience points from damaging and destroying ARC enemies. The system is straightforward: the more damage a player does to robots, the more progress they make toward event rewards. The goal, as Embark Studios frames it, is simple: tolerate other raiders and target the ARC machines instead.

"The goal is simple: tolerate other Raiders, target the ARC." – Embark Studios

The event runs for two weeks, giving players a defined window to participate. This limited-time approach is common in live-service games, where time-limited events create urgency and encourage players to log in regularly.

The Bigger Picture

The Shared Watch Event is part of a larger roadmap Embark Studios released for early 2026. February's update, called Shrouded Sky, will add new map conditions, ARC threats, and player projects alongside the cooperation event. March's Flashpoint brings additional conditions and fresh threats. The highlight arrives in April with Riven Tides, which introduces a brand-new coastal map, a large-scale ARC boss, and escalating environmental hazards.

This steady stream of content reflects the game's financial success. ARC Raiders has been a significant hit for Embark Studios since launch, remaining a bestseller across Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox. The game's profitability has given the studio what CEO Patrick Söderlund described as "long-term security," allowing the company to pursue new projects while continuing to support the extraction shooter with regular updates.

What This Means

The Shared Watch Event reveals how Embark Studios is thinking about player behavior in ARC Raiders. Rather than using heavy-handed systems to force cooperation, the studio is trying to nudge players toward it by making it rewarding. This approach respects player agency while creating incentives for the kind of gameplay the studio wants to encourage.

For players who enjoy the cooperative side of ARC Raiders, the event offers a chance to progress toward cosmetic rewards while playing in a style that feels more welcoming. For players who prefer competitive gameplay, the event is optional, and regular matchmaking continues outside these limited-time windows.

The strategy also speaks to a broader challenge in live-service games: balancing different playstyles and keeping players engaged over time. By rotating events and seasonal content, Embark Studios can cater to different preferences without alienating any single group.

The success of ARC Raiders has positioned Embark Studios as one of the few studios thriving in the current gaming landscape. While other major publishers have announced layoffs, Embark has been able to expand its team and fund new projects. The Shared Watch Event is just one small part of how the studio is using that stability to refine and improve the game that made it all possible.