Arc Raiders PvE test reveals players using physics glitches to bully teammates

Embark Studios is currently conducting a limited PvE test for their game, Arc Raiders, which eliminates the PvP aspects, allowing players to engage solely with Arc robots. This PvE test is significant as it provides insight into cooperative play in the absence of PvP threats. It uncovers new player interactions and interactions with the environment. The test is set to continue until October 20, offering a specific period for the team to collect data on these unique aspects prior to the full release.

Embark Studios seeks community feedback on toxic PvE behaviors

The PvE test in Arc Raiders effectively disables all regular PvP aspects, offering a sort of safe space for players to collaborate on fighting against the robotic enemies without the threat of being harmed by another human player. This alters the game dynamics, opening a unique social experiment where players face AI-based conflicts instead of player-based conflicts. The developers are closely monitoring these changes, specifically how player groups behave and how loot is distributed.

Players have already discovered strategies to exploit the absence of player-based damage, employing physics-based methods to interfere with their team members. Some players are employing a 'bull rush' strategy, pushing teammates into the firing line of the robot enemies, effectively making the cooperative play a hostile environment. In other instances, players are ambushing their team members to grab loot, capitalizing on the fact that players cannot inflict damage on one another in this PvE environment.

Embark Studios is inviting community feedback on these player interactions to further polish the PvE mode. They are seeking to better understand how these toxic interactions arise in a PvP-less environment and what adjustments could be made to mitigate these behaviors. These tests are crucial for balancing the game, as they expose specific problems that only manifest in this purely cooperative game mode.

Our last Arc Raiders update story touched on a lot of the same balance and stability concerns. This new test is building upon that previous update, with a specific focus on PvE gameplay and player interactions. These feedback loops are being used by the developers to make sure the game, once released, provides a stable and fair experience for everyone.

Source: IXBT