ARC Raiders now returns your lost gear when a match is compromised by cheaters, even if you never filed a report. Extraction shooters are built on risk and reward, but Embark is drawing a clear line: losses caused by unfair play won’t stick.

What’s new: automatic refunds for unfair deaths

When Embark confirms that a match involved cheating or similar unfair play, affected players receive their items back automatically. The in-game mail message is explicit: “Your items were lost due to unfair play, but we managed to get them back for you! They’re now available for you to claim and take with you on your next journey Topside.”

The studio is framing this as part of a broader commitment to make gameplay about skill, teamwork, and fun—not artificial advantages.

How refunds are detected and delivered

Embark uses server-side monitoring to flag abnormal matches and identify illegitimate kills, including those linked to third‑party tools like aimbots or wallhacks. When a match is validated as unfair, the system issues compensation through in‑game mail, restoring the loadout you were carrying when you died.

Refunds are tied to detection and confirmation. If the offending player is caught, the compensation process runs without you needing to trigger anything.

What you need to do

  • Check your in‑game mailbox after a suspicious loss. Refunded items arrive there for you to claim.
  • Keep reporting suspicious behavior in game. While refunds don’t require a report, player submissions help investigations and can speed up action against offenders.
Tip: If you remember a cheater’s profile details after a match, include them in your report to give moderators more to go on.

What happens to cheaters

Embark enforces account penalties against confirmed cheaters, up to and including bans. Offenders lose progress and gear, and must repurchase the game if they want to return. The goal is twofold: remove unfair advantages and undo the damage dealt to honest players.

Scope and limits

This policy covers items lost due to verifiable unfair play in PvP encounters. It does not change the core extraction loop—legitimate PvP deaths still cost you your loadout. The system focuses on:

  • Validated use of illicit tools or exploits that materially affect combat outcomes.
  • Server-side evidence that ties your death to unfair play.
  • Automatic restoration of the items you had in that match at the time of death.
Note: Timing of refunds can vary. If review or enforcement occurs after your session, the mail may appear later rather than immediately.

Why this matters for an extraction shooter

Extraction shooters hinge on high-stakes tension: what you extract shapes your next raid, and a single death can set you back. Restoring illegitimate losses preserves that economy while discouraging the arms race between cheat makers and anti‑cheat systems.

Interest is high. Shortly after launch, ARC Raiders crossed 328,000 concurrent players on Steam, with later peaks near 350,000. It has also set a new mark for PvP extraction shooters on the platform, reflecting strong demand for a fair competitive loop.

Quick reference: how compensation works

Trigger What you see What you do Action on offender
Embark confirms unfair play in your match In‑game mail stating your items were recovered Open mail and claim restored items Account penalties, up to bans
Suspicious death without immediate mail No instant refund Wait for review; file an in‑game report to assist Investigation continues; penalties if confirmed
Legitimate PvP death No compensation Regear normally None

The takeaway is simple: if your run is ruined by a cheater, you’ll get your gear back once it’s confirmed, and the bad actor won’t keep their gains. That keeps the stakes high for legitimate play—and keeps the meta centered on skill, not software.