ARC Raiders Shifts Focus to PVE with the Shared Watch Event

Embark Studios, the team behind ARC Raiders, is addressing a growing tension within its player base. The game has seen a divide between those who prefer battling the colossal ARC machines and those who enjoy player-versus-player (PVP) combat. Rather than imposing a solution through restrictive matchmaking, Embark Studios is taking a novel approach: incentivizing cooperation.

The Shared Watch Event: A Celebration of Teamwork

From February 10th to February 24th, the Shared Watch Event will reward Raiders who unite against the ARC threat, rather than each other. Players focusing on defeating ARC units during this period will unlock exclusive items, earn valuable Raider Tokens, and progress towards acquiring the brand-new cosmetic set, “The Slugger.”

How to Earn Rewards

Event rewards are unlocked by accumulating Merits, which are earned through XP gained by damaging and destroying ARC enemies. The core principle is simple: prioritize cooperation with fellow Raiders and focus your firepower on the ARC machines.

Embark Studios aims to make cooperation feel rewarding, not mandatory. They hope that a little loot-driven encouragement will refocus the fight where it belongs – against the mechanical invaders. This is a smart move to potentially draw back players who were frustrated with the PVP aspects of the game, and could even attract new players eager to experience a more collaborative experience.

Will the Event Work?

The success of this event remains to be seen, but the intent is clear. The studio is actively listening to player feedback and attempting to foster a more positive and unified community. We’ll find out if this approach resonates with the player base when the event kicks off tomorrow.

ARC Raiders is currently available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, and boasts full cross-play functionality, allowing you to team up with or compete against friends on any platform.

Learn more about ARC Raiders: Official Website

This article is based on reporting from The Outerhaven.