Embark Studios will permanently ban any account caught using known cheat programs in its shooter ARC Raiders without prior warning, eliminating previous temporary suspensions and second chances.
Key points
- Embark Studios will permanently ban any account caught using known cheats in ARC Raiders without prior warning.
- Hardware bans will target confirmed offenders, and linked accounts sharing sanctioned game licenses will also be removed.
- The game uses Denuvo kernel protection alongside Anybrain behavioral models and is evaluating in-house system Elytra.
- The anti-cheat changes take effect ahead of the Frozen Trail update scheduled to launch on October 8, 2026.
Executive Producer Aleksander Grøndal detailed the shift in an official anti-cheat update ahead of the game’s Frozen Trail expansion, scheduled to release on October 8, 2026. The zero-tolerance policy marks a direct response to community frustration over unauthorized third-party software affecting multiplayer matches.
Zero Tolerance and Account Linking Penalties
Under the new enforcement rules, Embark eliminated the warning stage previously granted to first-time offenders. The studio acknowledged that its earlier policy was overly cautious when dealing with initial infractions.
Permanent bans are now standard for all known cheat programs and, as a matter of policy, any account caught using cheats is permanently banned. No warnings, no second chances.
The revised policy also targets shared licenses and secondary profiles. If an account is caught cheating, the game license cannot be transferred or played on separate profiles. Any linked account tied to a banned copy of ARC Raiders will automatically receive a permanent ban as well.
Hardware Bans and Detection Delays
Embark lowered the operational threshold required to issue hardware bans, allowing the studio to lock out entire physical machines rather than simply disabling user accounts. Engineers are currently working to expand the types of hardware components and configurations these bans can detect.
Addressing player questions regarding why bans do not always occur instantly, Grøndal explained that detection systems continuously collect telemetry over time. This evaluation period builds statistical confidence across multiple game sessions before taking automated action, preventing legitimate players from receiving false penalties.
While behavioral algorithms handle bans autonomously once high statistical confidence is established, dedicated human review teams continue to inspect flagged video clips and social media reports. Human oversight also handles player appeals.
Detection Stack and Non-Cheat Exploits
The studio previously reinforced the security layer of ARC Raiders by pairing Denuvo kernel-level anti-cheat with Anybrain behavioral artificial intelligence to monitor aimbot usage and irregular physical inputs.
Embark is currently testing Elytra, an in-house anti-cheat framework developed for its arena shooter THE FINALS, for future integration into ARC Raiders. The company also uses proprietary machine-learning models to analyze live game data.
Alongside traditional software cheats, developers are implementing structural fixes for broader fairness issues. The studio has begun separating players who coordinate to queue together into solo matchmaking lobbies to ruin matches, alongside patching in-game economy exploits before the Pendola Pass map debuts with the Frozen Trail update.
