ARC Raiders
Got a phone and WiFi? That's two connections. PingAim lets you assign PioneerGame.exe to whichever interface you choose for the path to your nearest AWS server — because ARC Raiders punishes elevated latency twice, once through the network and again through its documented desync. Squad Discord and stream stay on the other connection, so nothing fights for bandwidth during the extraction sprint.
Does PingAim Help in ARC Raiders?
More about Easy Anti-Cheathow it works · what it blocks · known conflicts
ARC Raiders uses Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) at kernel level on Windows, consistent with Embark's approach in THE FINALS. The game also ships with an in-house supplementary anti-cheat component (Cerebro.dll, found in PioneerGame/Binaries/Win64/) which uses machine learning-based behavior detection — Embark has described their approach as 'a comprehensive mix of in-house solutions (some utilizing machine learning), multiple external partners, and several other detection methods.' On Linux, EAC runs in user-mode, making the game playable via Wine/Proton — but Linux support is not officially certified. The Steam Deck status is listed as unknown due to the kernel-level EAC constraint.
VPN and network optimizers
Network optimization tools including ExitLag and LagoFast publicly support ARC Raiders and report no bans. ExitLag has multiple dedicated ARC Raiders guides (high ping, packet loss, jitter, connection errors) indicating active compatibility. The kernel-level EAC targets memory manipulation, code injection, and process tampering — not network routing-level tools. However, standard VPNs that create virtual network adapters may trigger EAC more than routing-layer optimizers like ExitLag. Embark has not issued any statement banning network optimization software.
Known software conflicts
- EAC kernel driver incompatible with Linux/Steam Deck (runs user-mode only — game not officially Steam Deck certified)
- Some cloud gaming services (Shadow PC listed as incompatible due to kernel anti-cheat)
- Cerebro.dll in-house anti-cheat has generated false 'malware' detections in some Windows Defender configurations at launch
- Anti-cheatEAC
- ProtocolUDP
- Tick rate90 HZ
- ConnectionDedicated
- HostingAWS (Amazon Web Services) with…
- EngineUnreal Engine 5
- NATModerate
- LauncherSteam / Epic Games / Embark ID
Why ping matters in ARC Raiders
Latency sensitivity CriticalPing decides duels — sub-50ms is competitive territory.
ARC Raiders is a third-person extraction shooter where PvP engagements are decided in seconds — a single burst from an auto-rifle or shotgun blast kills in 2-3 hits. The extraction format creates high-tension confrontations around loot and extraction points where desync directly determines whether you register a kill or die before your shot lands. The game's documented desync issues (client shows you in cover, server registers exposure) mean elevated ping compounds the existing netcode problems. Per Henderson & Bhatti 2003 (FPS QoE study) and Raaen 2014 (cross-genre latency thresholds), action-shooter players begin to notice degraded responsiveness above roughly 80-100ms and significant impairment beyond that; the 30-minute match timer also means a disconnect or spike during extraction costs the entire run's worth of loot.
About ARC Raidersbackground, studio, esports scene
ARC Raiders is a third-person PvPvE extraction shooter developed by Embark Studios and published jointly with Nexon. Released on October 30, 2025 for Windows, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, the game is set on a future version of Earth overrun by autonomous machines known as ARC — drones and mechs of unclear origin that have devastated the surface. Players take on the role of Raiders: contractors who descend from underground bunker settlements to scavenge the hostile surface, collect resources, and extract before being killed by ARC machines or rival players. Squads of one, two, or three enter matches lasting roughly 30 minutes and compete for loot in a shared PvPvE arena.
ARC Raiders is Embark Studios' second major multiplayer title after THE FINALS (December 2023), and shares the same Unreal Engine 5 foundation and cloud infrastructure. The game was originally revealed in 2021 as a free-to-play title, but underwent a significant redesign before launching in 2025 as a premium $40 purchase — a decision described internally as a full AAA reset. The redesign story was detailed by Embark and Nexon at GDC 2026. By early 2026, ARC Raiders had sold over 15 million copies worldwide, won Best Multiplayer Game at The Game Awards 2025, and Online Game of the Year at the 29th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards.
Networking-wise, ARC Raiders has been a notable case study in post-launch netcode controversy: despite running on ~90 Hz servers (independently tested by The Escapist shortly after launch), the game shipped with significant desync and hit registration problems that the community attributed to netcode implementation rather than server tick rate. Embark has acknowledged these issues and has been iterating on fixes. The game uses Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) at kernel level on Windows, matching the approach taken in THE FINALS.
- Developer
- Embark Studios
- Publisher
- Embark Studios / Nexon
- Released
- 2025
- Platforms
- Windows, playstation5, xbox_series
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
Explore the ARC Raiders Guide
PingAim detects ARC Raiders automatically
No manual config. PingAim identifies ARC Raiders by process name and routes it through your fastest connection using a kernel-level WFP driver.
When does PingAim help — and when doesn't it?
PingAim helps when...
- You have a phone with 5G/LTE — tether via USB for a dedicated ARC Raiders connection isolated from household traffic
- You have both WiFi and Ethernet — route PioneerGame.exe through whichever pings lower to AWS
- You stream while playing — separate OBS and game traffic so upload congestion does not compound ARC's existing desync
- Your WiFi is congested with family during evening sessions — phone tethering bypasses shared contention
- You have two ISPs or a dual-WAN router
- Windows picks the wrong interface for PioneerGame.exe and you want explicit control
- Squad play where party leader is in a different region — the second connection may have a materially different routing path to the assigned server
Won't help when...
- You only have one network connection with no way to add a second
- Your only connection is already fast and stable (under 50ms, no jitter) to the AWS datacenter
- Server-side desync issues that are Embark netcode bugs — PingAim cannot fix server-side bugs
- FPS drops during ARC encounters — performance issues, not network related
- Queue/matchmaking server congestion during major updates or season launches — server load issue
- ARC Raiders runs Easy Anti-Cheat at kernel level — use PingAim's WFP driver mode only and avoid DLL-injection methods to stay clear of the active ban-wave detection scope
Related Games
Other games sharing technical traits with ARC Raiders — anti-cheat, hosting, engine, or genre.
Recent Updates
Community & Official Resources
Where players talk and where the publisher posts updates.