Why an ARC Raiders Bounty System Wouldn’t Work as Well as You Think

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Players have been discussing PvP in ARC Raiders since the game launched, and the debate continues. Many are asking Embark to add a system – like a reputation or notoriety ranking – to identify players who camp at extraction points or backstab teammates. While this might appeal to those struggling with the game’s PvP, it could actually harm what makes ARC Raiders enjoyable.

The developers of ARC Raiders are considering a bounty system where players could put a price on the heads of other players they feel have wronged them. This would alert other players to the bounty, incentivizing them to hunt down the targeted player for improved rewards, including better loot and in-game currency. While some have suggested a more permanent system of marking players with a bad reputation, that idea doesn’t quite fit ARC Raiders. A reputation system would likely disrupt the game’s core gameplay and could further frustrate players who already dislike the player-versus-player combat.

Why a Bounty System Wouldn’t Work in ARC Raiders

  • It would foster a “revenge” loop in ARC Raiders that encourages PvP gameplay
  • It would probably require ARC Raiders to have a report system, with such systems being infamous for being misused
  • It would likely increase toxicity in the ARC Raiders community
  • The development cost of a bounty system in ARC Raiders would presumably be high

A Bounty System in ARC Raiders Would Only Encourage PvP

It’s ironic that players asking for a bounty system in ARC Raiders might not realize it could create problems, but it likely would. ARC Raiders really shines because it blends cooperative and competitive gameplay so well. Players encounter ARCs and each other while exploring the world and finding loot, which keeps the game from being just about player-versus-player combat, all while staying true to the game’s story.

Adding a bounty system could disrupt the game’s current balance, shifting the focus from battling the ARCs to simply hunting other players. This would likely turn ARC Raiders into the type of player-versus-player experience that many players who want a bounty system are trying to avoid. Any form of it would prioritize PvP combat, potentially creating a cycle of revenge that overshadows the intended mix of player-versus-environment and player-versus-player gameplay. Ultimately, this could threaten what makes ARC Raiders unique and risk turning it into just another competitive shooter.

Image via Embark Studios

A Bounty System in ARC Raiders Would Put Too Much Trust in Players to Be Objective

As a big fan of ARC Raiders, I’m a little worried about the idea of a bounty system tied to player reports. We’ve seen this go wrong in other competitive games. It’s so easy for someone to report another player just because they got beat, even if it was a totally fair fight! Honestly, it feels like it would create more problems than it solves. Instead of fixing unfairness, it could just lead to people abusing the system out of frustration. I think adding reports to a bounty system would just complicate things in ARC Raiders and probably make things less fun for everyone.

In a game like ARC Raiders, determining fairness depends entirely on how the game is designed and its anti-cheat measures. Without a way for players to report unfair play, the game can’t recognize when someone is being treated unfairly beyond those rules. One idea was to let players put a “bounty” on other players who unfairly eliminate them – like those who camp extraction points or attack from behind. Other players would then be alerted if that target was in their game and encouraged to hunt them down. However, this system would rely too much on players being objective after being eliminated, which is unlikely. It would also require redefining what’s considered fair play within ARC Raiders, and there’s no way to guarantee players would report honestly or not just based on frustration.

Image via Embark Studios

A Bounty System in ARC Raiders Would Likely Make the Community Toxic

The suggested bounty system could actually worsen the game’s community. Players already consider those who use unfair tactics like lying or camping in ARC Raiders to be “toxic,” and that feeling hasn’t gone away. While ARC Raiders is meant to be tense and create uncertainty about who you can trust – which isn’t necessarily toxic in itself – a bounty system would likely just encourage more negative behavior.

While a bounty system in ARC Raiders might aim to reduce negative interactions, it could easily make the community even more hostile. Instead of solving the problem, it might unfairly label certain playstyles as unacceptable, turning players into targets. Dealing with competitive or unpredictable gameplay is one thing, but it’s far worse when the community uses those moments as an excuse to harass others. A bounty system could transform normal in-game conflicts into personal vendettas, where players feel entitled to repeatedly target someone simply because the game allows it.

It Would Presumably Cost Too Much to Make Space for a Bounty System in ARC Raiders

Adding a bounty system to ARC Raiders would likely be very expensive and time-consuming for the developers at Embark. It would require creating rules, a user interface, and systems to monitor and prevent cheating – all for a feature that doesn’t really fit with the game’s current blend of player-versus-player and player-versus-environment gameplay. Considering this, the development team would likely be better off focusing on adding new ARCs, areas to explore, events, or improvements that benefit all players.

ARC Raiders Is Great Without a Bounty System

A major concern with adding a bounty system to ARC Raiders is how it would disrupt the game’s flow. While it’s normal for games, especially those mixing player-versus-player and player-versus-environment gameplay, to have differing opinions, that doesn’t always warrant changing how the game is played. A bounty system might seem appealing, but it likely would create more problems than solutions. ARC Raiders remains popular on Steam even after a month, demonstrating its success without needing this feature. The potential downsides of adding it are too significant, and it’s probably best to stick with the current PvP focus, even if it takes some players time to get used to.

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2025-12-02 03:05