Embark’s Executive Producer Aleks posted a detailed anti-cheat update for ARC Raiders today, and it’s the first time I’ve seen a studio lay out concrete policy shifts instead of the usual “we’re working on it.” Permanent bans are now the default, hardware bans are getting broader, and they’re finally cracking down on queue teaming. That last one hit home for me—I’ve had too many solo raids spoiled by coordinated groups.
I’ll be honest: I’ve been burned by anti-cheat promises before. But the numbers here are hard to ignore. An 85% drop in teaming behavior five days after they started separating known groups? That’s not a vague commitment; that’s a measurable result. I’m cautiously optimistic, but I also know cheat makers adapt fast. The real test is whether Embark can keep up the pressure.
What Aleks Actually Said
The post is long, but it boils down to three big changes. First, permanent bans are now standard for all known cheat programs. No warnings, no second chances. Aleks admitted they were “overly cautious” early on, and the community frustration was heard. Second, they’ve expanded license restrictions and linked-account sanctions. If an account has ever been associated with a banned copy of the game, it gets a permanent ban too. Third, hardware bans are being applied at a lower threshold, and they’re working on a solution to target almost all systems caught running cheat software. That’s supposed to come later this year.
On the detection side, they’re using kernel-level protection from Denuvo, detections from Anybrain, and in-house machine-learning models. Aleks also mentioned Elytra, a system currently being tested on a small scale in THE FINALS, with plans to test it in ARC Raiders eventually. He was clear that anti-cheat systems don’t ban instantly because they need high confidence to avoid false positives. They also manually review videos and streams for clear evidence.
The teaming numbers are the standout for me. They started keeping known teaming groups apart in matchmaking, and five days later, spoiled raids dropped from around 1 in 50 to 1 in 300. Queue times weren’t meaningfully impacted. That’s a huge quality-of-life improvement for solo players like me.
What This Means for Raiders
If these changes hold, the solo experience gets a lot better. Teamers were the bane of my raids, and seeing them separated in matchmaking is a relief. The permanent ban policy is also a strong deterrent—cheaters can’t just make a new account and jump back in, especially with license and hardware restrictions layered on top.
I’m still watching for two things. First, whether the hardware ban expansion actually ships later this year as promised. Second, how quickly they can adapt when cheat makers inevitably find workarounds. Aleks said it himself: hardware bans aren’t a silver bullet. But for now, this is the most concrete anti-cheat commitment I’ve seen from Embark, and it gives me a reason to queue up again on October 8.
