Watchlist for toxic players – how the ARC Raiders community responds to pvp tension

ARC Raiders – which, by the way, isn’t an extraction shooter but an extraction adventure – was originally designed as a co-op experience. Since release, however, it has increasingly leaned into PvP. On the “Surface,” players face each other with growing mistrust, leading to sudden betrayals after brief truces or ambushes in areas that seem safe. Deliberate “rat” tactics like camping and trap-setting have become part of everyday play. Most encounters now follow the same rhythm: a brief moment of hesitation – then the snap decision to lower your weapon or pull the trigger.

In response to the increasingly tense atmosphere in the game, the community launched an unusual project: the Speranza Watchlist. It’s a website where players can vent about underhanded behavior – though not in a serious manner. Rather than acting as a real reporting tool, it takes a satirical angle, turning the chaos on the Surface into a role-playing scenario. Instead of exposing or penalizing players, it collects incidents and turns moments of real frustration into amusing stories.

The idea is simple: anyone who’s been betrayed, tricked or ambushed can submit the Embark ID of the player involved. The “incident” is then reimagined in a role-playing style – with fictional categories, ironic comments and a satirical profile that portrays the alleged offender as anything from a clueless newcomer to a scheming villain. The Speranza Watchlist isn’t meant to punish – it’s a lighthearted outlet for frustrated ARC Raiders players. It’s also important to note that the site has no ties to Embark Studios and doesn’t replace official reporting options.