ARC Raiders Patch Shakes Up PvP as Shared Watch Pushes Players to Unite
Something important is shifting in ARC Raiders right now and it speaks directly to how this game wants to be played going forward.
Embark Studios has rolled out the February Update 1.15.0 and at the center of it is a clear message to the community. The real enemy is not each other. It is the machines.
This update launches the Shared Watch event, a limited-time push running from February 10 through February 24. The goal is simple but deliberate. Encourage cooperation in a game that has been drifting toward constant player-versus-player conflict. Instead of punishing aggressive play, Embark is choosing to reward restraint and teamwork.
During the Shared Watch event, players earn Merits by damaging, assisting and destroying ARC machines. Those Merits unlock rewards, including cosmetics like the Slugger set and in-game currency. But here is the critical detail. No Merits are earned from PvP encounters. Fighting other players may still happen, but it no longer helps you progress the event.
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This matters because ARC Raiders has been struggling with a tension at its core. Some players want high-risk machine hunts. Others want to ambush fellow Raiders. That clash has pushed parts of the community away. Embark is now testing whether incentives, rather than strict matchmaking rules, can reshape player behavior.
The update also brings back the Cold Snap map condition. Outdoor zones can once again turn deadly with frostbite damage, forcing players to seek shelter or risk a quick end. For those willing to brave the cold, loot values are higher, creating a calculated risk-reward loop. Snowballs also return, adding a light but tactical element to encounters.
Beyond events and atmosphere, Update 1.15.0 delivers meaningful fixes. Reconnection issues after disconnects have been improved. Crafting cancellations have been addressed. End-of-round reward errors have been corrected. Weapon cycling is now more reliable for players using custom keybinds. Even grenade behavior has been adjusted so explosions no longer deal damage through walls.
At the same time, Embark is being open about known issues still in the game. Some cosmetics may preview incorrectly. Skill points may fail to appear until a reboot. Certain interactions and animations can still break under specific conditions. The transparency is intentional and the studio is asking players to keep reporting problems as live operations continue to evolve.
The bigger question is whether this experiment works. Can rewarding cooperation shift player culture without forcing it. If Shared Watch succeeds, it could shape how future events and systems are designed. If it fails, the divide between PvE and PvP players may only grow sharper.
This update is not just a patch. It is a statement about the future direction of ARC Raiders.
Stay with us as this story develops and keep watching for updates from topside.
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