Toxic Arc Raiders Players Found a Way to Harass Others in PvE Mode

Some Arc Raiders players adapted quickly to the restrictions of the new PvE mode and found ways to amuse themselves at others’ expense.

The Arc Raiders developers began testing PvE in October. The experimental mode disables PvP-related mechanics so players can focus on fighting the Arc robots.

Even here, though, players can’t escape the game’s toxic users. Some enthusiasts quickly found ways to make life harder for others in what looked like a safe PvE mode.

The traditional pranks are off the table. In PvE, throwable items, including stun and incendiary ones, have no effect on other players. Some people are getting creative anyway, and a tactic called the bull rush has gone viral.

The tactic exploits a loophole: players can shove other players, for example those trying to extract. Victims can end up in a robot’s line of attack and die. Technically, this does not count as killing another player, so there is no penalty for a “direct kill” (at least for now). Shovers can also keep other players from collecting loot.

In PvP, some players set up ambushes near locked rooms with valuable loot, killing the key holder and taking the haul. That is no longer possible in PvE. Players can still ambush a key holder and then rush into the opened room to grab the loot quickly. The victims cannot shoot back at the looters because damage to other players is disabled.

Arc Raiders fans hope this toxicity is temporary, since the mode’s launch drew a wide variety of players. Those who want a full PvE experience expect the situation to improve in a few days.

Embark Studios plans to test PvE in Arc Raiders until October 20. The developers are asking players to share their feedback on the mode.