Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Yes—players can still grief one another in ARC Raiders’ PvE test even with player-to-player damage disabled. Reports from the public beta describe raiders using Bull Rush shoves, body-blocking, locked-room camping and lure grenades to disrupt rivals. The result is not conventional friendly-fire killing, but indirect sabotage at the exact places where a failed encounter costs a team its haul: contested loot rooms, revives and extraction points.
What is happening in ARC Raiders PvE?
Embark’s week-long public PvE beta began on October 13, 2026, and is scheduled to end on October 20. During the test, direct player damage is disabled. Players can still collide with and shove one another, however, and they can manipulate the environment by drawing ARC machines toward other raiders.
Tech News Vision reported players using Bull Rush to shove rivals who were trying to extract, waiting outside locked loot rooms for someone carrying the key, and throwing lure grenades near extraction areas. The report described one player being downed by ARC enemies after a lure grenade was used, followed by body-blocking and pushing when the teammate attempted a revive.
These are reported incidents, not a measured abuse rate. They do not establish that every PvE lobby behaves this way.
#1 Best Overall
- TRIFORCE TITANIUM 50 MM DRIVERS — Our cutting-edge proprietary design divides the driver into 3 parts for the individual tuning of highs, mids, and lows—producing brighter, clearer audio with richer highs and more powerful lows
- HYPERCLEAR CARDIOID MIC — An improved pickup pattern ensures more voice and less noise as it tapers off towards the mic’s back and sides, with the sweet spot easily placed at the mouth because of the mic’s bendable design
- ADVANCED PASSIVE NOISE CANCELLATION — Sturdy closed earcups fully cover the ears to prevent noise from leaking into the headset, with its cushions providing a closer seal for more sound isolation
- LIGHTWEIGHT DESIGN WITH MEMORY FOAM EAR CUSHIONS — At just 240 g, the headset features thicker headband padding and memory foam ear cushions with leatherette to keep gaming in peak form during grueling tournaments and training sessions
- WORKS WITH WINDOWS SONIC — Make the most of the headset’s powerful drivers by pairing it with lifelike surround sound that places audio with pinpoint accuracy, heightening in-game awareness and immersion
How players sabotage others without friendly fire
Bull Rush and physical blocking
Disabling damage does not remove physical interference. A shove can interrupt movement at an elevator, metro station, air shaft or raider hatch, all of which function as predictable routes out of a raid. Body-blocking can also delay a revive or force a player into the path of incoming ARC fire. The damage is indirect, but the consequences are real because a failed extraction means losing collected equipment and materials; only contents in the protected safe pocket are retained.
Camping locked loot rooms
Locked rooms turn a key into control over a choke point. A player who reaches the room first—or waits outside for a key-holder—can contest access to the chest as soon as it opens. Tech News Vision described campers waiting for another raider to arrive with the required key and then taking or contesting the contents. This is opportunistic looting rather than a conventional duel, but it exploits the same high-value timing that makes PvPvE tense.
Luring ARC enemies into extraction
Lure grenades can redirect ARC robots toward the area where another team is trying to leave. Used this way, the grenade turns the game’s AI into a weapon. The report called the tactic especially dangerous when the enemy is a Shredder, because a team already committed to an extraction animation has less room to reposition or fight.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #2
- 【Amazing Stable Connection-Quick Access to Games】Real-time gaming audio with our 2.4GHz USB & Type-C ultra-low latency wireless connection. With less than 30ms delay, you can enjoy smoother operation and stay ahead of the competition, so you can enjoy an immersive lag-free wireless gaming experience.
- 【Game Communication-Better Bass and Accuracy】The 50mm driver plus 2.4G lossless wireless transports you to the gaming world, letting you hear every critical step, reload, or vocal in Fortnite, Call of Duty, The Legend of Zelda and RPG, so you will never miss a step or shot during game playing. You will completely in awe with the range, precision, and audio quality your ears were experiencing.
- 【Flexible and Convenient Design-Effortless in Game】Ideal intuitive button layout on the headphones for user. Multi-functional button controls let you instantly crank or lower volume and mute, quickly answer phone calls, cut songs, turn on lights, etc. Ease of use and customization, are all done with passion and priority for the user.
- 【Less plug, More Play-Dual Input From 2.4GHz & Bluetooth】 Wireless gaming headset adopts high performance dual mode design. With a 2.4GHz USB dongle, which is super sturdy, lag＜30ms, perfectly made for gamers. Bluetooth mode only work for phone, laptop and switch. And 3.5mm wired mode (Only support music and call).
- 【Wide Compatibility with Gaming Devices】Setup the perfect entertainment system by plugging in 2.4G USB. The convenience of dual USB work seamlessly with your PS5,PS4, PC, Mac, Laptop, Switch and saves you from swapping cables.
That explains how players can appear to “kill” rivals while never dealing player damage: they create a worse enemy encounter, block the escape or prevent a revive until ARC robots finish the job.
Why extraction and loot are easy targets
ARC Raiders is a third-person extraction shooter for PlayStation 5, Windows and Xbox Series X/S. Raiders leave Speranza, gather resources, fight ARC machines and other players in the standard experience, then extract to keep the haul. Extraction elevators, metro stations, air shafts and key-required hatches concentrate teams into limited routes. Locked rooms add another predictable contest: whoever controls the key or the doorway can influence who gets the reward.
Those systems make indirect griefing unusually effective. A shove that would be trivial in an open area can strand a player at an elevator. A lure grenade thrown in a broad combat zone may be avoidable; thrown at an extraction point, it can force a choice between abandoning the exit and fighting a dangerous machine. Likewise, a room camper does not need to win a firefight if arriving players have already spent time, ammunition or health opening the room.
Rank #3
- Immersive 7.1 Surround Sound: This gaming headset delivering stereo surround sound for realistic audio. Whether you're in a high-speed FPS battle or losing yourself RPG adventures, this Ps5 headset provides crisp treble, punchy bass, and precise directional cues, giving you a competitive edge
- Great Humanized Design: Comfortable and breathable permeability protein over-ear pads perfectly on your head, adjustable headband distributes pressure evenly, you’ll enjoy lasting comfort during hours of gaming and suitable for all gaming players of all ages
- Sensitivity Noise-Cancelling Microphone: 360° omnidirectionally rotatable sensitive microphone, premium noise cancellation, sound localisation, your voice comes through loud and natural, ensuring your teammates catch every callout, even in chaotic battle scenes.
- Universal Compatibility: This gaming headphone support for PC, Ps5, Ps4, Xbox one, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, Laptop, Mobile Phone and other devices with 3.5mm jack.Note 1: When you use headset on your PC, be sure to connect the "1-to-2 3.5mm audio jack splitter cable" (Red-Mic, Green-audio). (Please note you need an extra Microsoft Adapter when connect with an old version Xbox One controller)
- Cool style gaming experience: Colorful RGB lights create a gorgeous gaming atmosphere, adding excitement to every match. Heightening immersion for FPS, MOBA, and action titles. These eye-catching lights give your setup a gamer-ready look while maintaining focus on performance. (*Note: The USB connector is for LED lighting only)
PvE beta versus standard PvPvE
The following comparison reflects the reported rules of the October test. It does not imply a controlled measurement of loot rates or griefing frequency.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
| Factor | Standard PvPvE | October 2026 PvE test |
|---|---|---|
| Direct player damage | Players can threaten one another with weapons. | Disabled during the public beta. |
| Physical interaction | Movement collisions and shoves remain part of encounters. | Bull Rush, shoving and body-blocking remain possible. |
| Loot access | Teams can fight over keys, locked rooms and chests. | The same access points can be camped or contested without gun damage. |
| ARC exposure | Players face ARC machines as well as hostile raiders. | ARC machines remain the main direct combat threat and can be redirected with lure grenades. |
| Extraction risk | Gunfights and ARC attacks can stop an extraction. | ARC attacks, shoves, blocking and lure tactics can still stop it. |
| Loot quantity and tuning | Baseline values are not stated in the cited reports. | Some players perceived less loot, but no controlled loot-rate measurement is established. |
| Social atmosphere | Higher tension because any player may attack. | Lower-pressure co-op for some players; others describe the mode as bland, hollow or boring without PvP tension. |
Is ARC Raiders PvE actually safer?
It is safer from one specific threat—another player shooting you—but not automatically safer at the moments that matter most. The PvE rules remove direct player damage while preserving contested loot, movement interference and ARC combat. A team can still lose its haul because a rival controls a doorway, delays a revive or attracts a Shredder to the exit.
That trade-off explains the divided reaction. Some players prefer the lower-pressure co-op loop. Others argue that removing PvP removes the tension that gives extraction a purpose. GamesRadar quoted streamer Loochy saying, “The reality is Arc Raiders doesn’t have a strong enough endgame to support a meaningful PvE experience,” and adding, “It just feels hollow.” These are opinions, not an official assessment of the mode.
Rank #4
- Enjoy expansive cinematic sound. Big 50 mm audio drivers deliver an incredible sound experience
- Hear Enemies From All Sides. DTS Headphone:X 2.0 surround sound(1) lets you hear enemies sneaking behind you, special ability cues, and immersive environments. It’s positional clarity that can make the difference between victory and defeat. Experience three-dimensional audio that goes beyond 7.1 channels to make you feel like you’re right in the middle of the action. (1) DTS Headphone:X 2.0 requires Logitech G HUB Software.
- Be Heard Loud and Clear. The big 6 mm boom mic makes sure you’re heard by gaming partners and mutes when flipped up.
- Use One Headset For Most Game Platforms. Your headphones work with your PC or Mac via USB DAC or 3.5 mm cable, mobile devices with 3.5 mm cable or with gaming consoles including PlayStationⓇ 5 and PlayStationⓇ 4 (USB wireless stereo sound only), Nintendo Switch (wireless stereo sound when docked)
- Game for Hours in Comfort. Everything about these headphones is about comfort: The deluxe lightweight leatherette ear cups and headband are made to keep pressure off your ears. Ear cups rotate up to 90 degrees for convenience.
What players can do during the test
No cited source identifies an official moderation policy, reporting workflow, penalty system or anti-griefing patch. Until Embark publishes one, practical play depends on reducing exposure to the situations being exploited:
- Expect contested access. Treat a key-required room as a possible player encounter even when weapons cannot damage you.
- Watch the extraction approach. Scan for unusual ARC activity or a lure grenade before committing to an elevator, station, shaft or hatch.
- Keep space for a revive. A teammate pinned against a doorway or extraction boundary is vulnerable to blocking and incoming AI attacks.
- Do not assume PvE means harmless contact. Shoves and body collisions can still change your route and timing.
- Protect valuable items where possible. Death removes collected equipment and materials except contents stored in the safe pocket.
The scale of the beta
GamesRadar reported 185,000 concurrent Steam players during the surrounding update cycle, described as a seven-month high. That figure indicates substantial interest in the game at the time, but it does not measure how common griefing is or how many players entered the PvE beta.
The public test is time-limited: the cited schedule runs from October 13 through October 20, 2026. Reports from that window should therefore be read as observations of an experiment, not proof that the same behavior will remain after the test or occur in every future PvE mode.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
