ARC Raiders is finally here, and with it comes plenty of first-time mistakes that players will have to navigate and learn in the extraction shooter’s harrowing machine-filled world. Survival is key in ARC Raiders, as the surface world has become uninhabitable for humans, thanks to the robotic AI threat known as the ARC. As is the case with any extraction shooter, players are tasked with gathering supplies and finishing objectives, ultimately successfully making it to the extraction point, and it can often be a lot easier with the help of some friends to assist along the way.
While not every ARC Raiders fan enjoys playing with a squad, forming a team can sometimes help ensure survival, but there is one massive mistake that can keep one’s squad from success. Before squadding up, there is an important voice chat setting that players need to be aware of before trying to survive in the ARC-infested world that sits above Speranza.
ARC Raiders Squads Needs to Be Aware of Their Proximity Voice Chat Settings
- There are two options for voice chat in ARC Raiders, Proximity Chat and Party Chat.
- Proximity Chat is automatically on by default.
- If unchanged, squads can unknowingly give away their positions, since other players can hear them with Proximity Chat.
Proximity Chat is nothing new in video games, but it can really elevate an online multiplayer experience. It adds an extra level of depth, but for those who want to remain as hidden as possible, especially in such a cutthroat game, turning it off may be for the best, especially for squads. As the names of the two voice chat options imply, Proximity lets nearby players hear you, while Party chat makes it to where only your fellow teammates can pick up on what’s being said. Solo ARC Raiders players don’t have to necessarily worry about the default settings for Proximity, but when trying to talk to squad members, not being aware of one’s voice settings could prove to be a death sentence.
ARC Raiders doesn’t hold back. It’s a challenging game, and while squads enabling Proximity Chat could take the difficulty to even greater heights and make the experience more immersive, newcomers or teams wanting to survive at any cost are bound to benefit most from turning on Party Chat.
Proximity Chat and Party Chat offer these settings: Push to Talk, Toggle to Talk, and Open Microphone.
While ARC is the ultimate threat, and shooting fellow Raiders on site usually isn’t the best course of action, that won’t stop other players from hunting down the sound of another. Customizing voice chat may be easier said than done for some players, though. While being aware of one’s voice chat settings is important, certain players may not be able to switch between the two until an ongoing bug within the game has been fixed.
Both Proximity Chat and Party Chat Have Been Giving Some ARC Raiders Players Trouble
- Social media users have reported issues with ARC Raiders‘ voice chat.
- Console users in particular are having trouble using Party Chat.
- It’s unclear when this issue will be fixed.
As thrilling as ARC Raiders has proven to be, it hasn’t been entirely smooth sailing for Embark Studios’ highly anticipated extraction shooter. Because of the immense hype surrounding the title, ARC Raiders has faced server issues since its October 30 launch, which have affected features like voice chat, matchmaking, and have kept many players in long queues. A lot of console users have been having the most issues with voice settings, specifically Party Chat.
With ARC Raiders just finishing its launch weekend, Embark Studios is bound to straighten out the various kinks that have been popping up for some players. For those who are still potentially facing voice chat problems, the game thankfully utilizes emotes, so there is at least some way to communicate with friends in ARC Raiders without actually talking. It may not be ideal for some players, but it’s definitely better than nothing when facing voice chat bugs.
For players who want to be even more aware of their surroundings, turning off ARC Raiders‘ music can make it easier to hear other players or nearby ARC.
Survival is key in ARC Raiders, as the surface world has become uninhabitable for humans, thanks to the robotic AI threat known as the ARC.
ARC Raiders Puts Survival and Teamwork Front and Center
Over the years, there have been plenty of online multiplayer games that make winning the ultimate goal. Between heavy-hitters like Fortnite, Apex Legends, Call of Duty, Halo Infinite, and Counter-Strike 2, coming out on top is of the upmost importance. However, with extraction shooters, survival is far more important, and ARC Raiders does a fantastic job of reminding players that staying alive is truly the most meaningful objective. Instead of charging toward players with guns blazing, being more methodical and strategic forces players to slow down and think about their choices. Also, when players eventually run into other Raiders, it could require negotiation in order to fan out the flames of any potential conflict.
ARC Raiders players have three skill trees to build up: Survival, Mobility, and Conditioning, with each making one a more well-rounded and capable Raider.
Frankly, it’s a really great change of pace. Extraction shooters aren’t exactly new, but they’re definitely on the rise. Between ARC Raiders and Bungie’s upcoming Marathon, the extraction shooter genre is attempting to claw its way through as the next major gaming trend after years of battle royales. Based on the initial reaction to ARC Raiders, there is definitely a lot of potential. There is a learning curve to ARC Raiders, but it’s far more approachable than Escape from Tarkov, and it could make the former the blueprint for the genre moving forward. Whether one prefers diving into ARC Raiders solo or with a squad is a matter of preference, but for those who have a deep interest in keeping their team as safe as possible, checking voice chat settings is an essential step before facing the surface world.
- Released
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October 30, 2025
- ESRB
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Teen / Violence, Blood
