Embark Would Like You All to Play Nice in Arc Raiders' Temporary PvE Event Shared Watch, Which Starts Today
•February 10, 2026
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Why It Matters
The event incentivizes teamwork in a genre known for hostile player interactions, potentially reshaping community dynamics. It also extends the game’s content lifecycle and showcases Embark’s approach to balancing cooperation and competition.
Key Takeaways
- •Shared Watch PvE event runs until Feb 24.
- •Rewards granted for damaging or destroying Arc bots only.
- •PvP kills excluded from merit system, discouraging griefing.
- •Friendly fire remains enabled, testing player cooperation.
- •Cold Snap map condition and new Vulpine, Slugger cosmetics return.
Pulse Analysis
Extraction shooters like Arc Raiders thrive on high‑stakes tension, but that tension often stems from unpredictable player behavior. By introducing Shared Watch, Embark creates a limited‑time cooperative focus that nudges players toward collective objectives rather than opportunistic betrayal. The event’s reward structure—granting merits only for damaging AI‑controlled Arcs—offers a clear incentive to collaborate, while deliberately excluding PvP kills to deter griefing. This design choice reflects a broader industry trend of using seasonal content to reshape player dynamics without overhauling core mechanics.
Keeping friendly fire enabled adds a layer of realism and risk, forcing squads to communicate and coordinate more tightly. The risk of accidental damage tests trust, and the potential for intentional sabotage introduces a moral dilemma that can surface community norms. Embark’s decision to monitor, rather than immediately punish, disruptive players suggests an experimental approach to moderation, relying on social pressure and in‑game consequences to self‑regulate. Such mechanics can deepen engagement for players who enjoy emergent social gameplay, while still offering safeguards for those who prefer a more controlled environment.
From a business perspective, timed events like Shared Watch serve multiple purposes: they refresh the player base, extend the game’s monetization window, and generate media buzz. The return of the Cold Snap map condition and new cosmetic sets adds visual variety, encouraging both new and returning players to log in. Coupled with technical fixes that improve stability, the update positions Arc Raiders for sustained growth in a competitive live‑service market, illustrating Embark’s commitment to iterative content and community‑driven design.
Embark would like you all to play nice in Arc Raiders' temporary PvE event Shared Watch, which starts today
Destroying terrifying robots is better with friends
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios
The single most offputting thing about a game like Arc Raiders, i.e. an extraction shooter, is that every single other person you meet in‑game is Schrödinger's asshole. They could be a friend who you share a story or some loot with, or they could mercilessly gun you down at the drop of a hat. It's certainly not for everyone, but in the game's latest update, a new PvE event has arrived encouraging everyone to walk hand in hand together to defeat those big bad bots.
This new event is called Shared Watch, described in‑world as an “annual holiday that reminds us of the true enemy, by celebrating those that look out for their fellow Raiders. Tolerate, team‑up, or take out some Arc – it’s all in the spirit of the Shared Watch.” The event is running from right now as you read this, through to February 24, and anyone that destroys, helps to destroy, or simply damages any Arcs can earn merits and rewards for doing so. However, killing others in PvP encounters won’t get you anything, obviously to discourage you from doing so.
It’s an interesting choice to leave friendly fire on, and I think conceptually one I broadly agree with. In an ideal world more people will help others than debilitate them, though the odd griefer is still all but guaranteed. This does raise questions as to how developer Embark should handle such people – are they shunned or punished for their nastiness, or are they ignored and the law of the people takes precedence? A moral quandary that will come to light in the coming days.
Outside of this, the Cold Snap map condition is returning to the rotation, so dress up warmly if you’re heading out. You’ll also be able to pick up the Vulpine and Slugger cosmetic sets. There are a few fixes and tweaks in this update, like an annoying issue where some couldn’t reconnect after disconnecting from a game, and another where crafting would just randomly be cancelled. You can read the full patch notes on this handy blog post right here.
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