2 min read
Embark Studios is finally escalating its war against hackers. The developer continues its fight to protect its hit third-person extraction shooter, ARC Raiders, and has begun permanently banning players caught cheating.
ARC Raiders launched in October with huge success. However, fame brought massive downsides. In just three months, aimbotters, exploiters, and hackers inundated the game. Embark Studios initially issued temporary suspensions earlier this month. Fans and streamers despised this weak response. Consequently, the studio is now taking the matter “extremely seriously”. They are currently implementing significant rule changes and deploying new detection mechanisms to identify and remove these disruptors.
Streamers Force ARC Raiders to Change
The shift to permanent bans stems largely from community outrage. High-profile streamers threatened to quit the game entirely due to the lack of administrative control.
TheBurntPeanut, one of the game’s biggest content creators, recently reached a breaking point. After hackers hunted him repeatedly during a live stream, he issued a strict ultimatum. He demanded:
Fix this, or I’m actually out of here.
Embark Studios listened. Fellow streamer Thump revealed that the studio permanently banned the specific cheater just 30 minutes after TheBurntPeanut’s outburst. Thump stated:
After a month long of them doing nothing, your rant made the difference.
Just wanted to let you know that they just banned one of them permanently 30 minutes ago. After a month long of them doing nothing, your rant made the difference in them finally taking action. Use your voice more pic.twitter.com/R0NPJdJYwQ
— THUMP (@THump) January 16, 2026
Furthermore, former Counter-Strike and Valorant pro Shroud also blasted the developer. He claimed Embark has “no control” over its game. Streamers face unique challenges, such as constant “stream-sniping”, which makes gameplay nearly impossible. Thankfully, the studio is no longer turning a blind eye.
Future Content & Roadmap
While the anti-cheat measures are the priority, new content is on the horizon. Embark has yet to reveal the full 2026 roadmap for ARC Raiders. However, a developer recently confirmed that multiple new maps will be released over the next 12 months.
Additionally, rumours suggest a new “Toxic Swamp” map modifier could arrive as early as next week. Embark has not yet officially confirmed this specific update. For now, the community hopes the permanent bans mark a turning point for the shooter.
