ARC Raiders Is Returning Your Gear If You Die to Cheaters
This is how you fight cheaters. You don't just ban them, you undo the damage they did.
There is no feeling worse than loading into an extraction shooter kitted to the teeth, only to get instantly head-shot from across the map by someone with a garbage name, through three walls.
It's the absolute worst part of the genre. You lose your gear, your time, and your sanity, all because of some script-running loser.
Well, it looks like Embark Studios has found the perfect antidote. A screenshot is making the rounds in the community, and it's a thing of absolute beauty.
The "Unfair Play" Refund
The message, titled "ITEMS RETURNED," is short, sweet, and to the point.
"Your items were lost due to unfair play, but we managed to get them back for you! ... We're committed to building an environment where gameplay is about skill, teamwork, and fun, not unfair advantages."
Below that is a full list of high-tier weapons, materials, and consumables, all ready to be claimed.
This implies an incredible, automated system. When Embark's anti-cheat flags and (presumably) bans a cheater, it's not just removing the problem. It's also flagging everyone that player killed and just... giving them their shit back.
This Should Be the New Standard
I am not exaggerating when I say this is a complete game-changer.
Banning a cheater is great. That's the bare minimum. But it never fixes the damage they did. I've always just had to suck it up and accept that my 40-minute run was erased by someone who can't aim.
This new system is more than a ban; it's a reparation. It's Embark sending a direct message to the playerbase saying, "We see you, we know this was bullshit, and we respect your time."
It completely defangs the cheater. They don't get the satisfaction of ruining your day, and they don't get to keep your hard-earned loot.
Every single developer in the extraction genre, from Tarkov to Marauders, needs to be taking notes right now. This is how you build massive community trust. It's a huge, uncomplicated win.