I didn’t jump into Arc Raiders right at launch. By the time I joined, the game was in its second season—a world already lived in by others. A world where survival isn’t the goal—it’s loot. And that’s where the true danger lies.

It starts like this: You load in, standing in the dim-lit bunker of Esperanza, a place that feels like a breath of safety. You equip your gear—augments, weapons, ammo—and prepare to step out into the chaos. But even then, that safety is only an illusion. Once you head topside, you’re not just battling the towering Arc. You’re also dealing with other raiders, some of whom would rather see you dead than work together for mutual gain.

Arc Raiders isn’t about survival. It’s about loot. And that’s where the toxic side of PvP has crept in. Some players will play friendly, share loot, even help you fight off the Arc, just long enough to get close—and then, when you least expect it, they’ll stab you in the back. They’ll kill you for your gear. They’ll camp extraction points and prevent you from escaping just so they can loot your body without lifting a finger.

I’ve had it happen to me more than once. A player claims “friendly” at the extraction point, and for a moment, there’s a sense of relief. But then, without warning, they open fire. It’s a feeling of betrayal unlike anything else. If you’re going to PvP, fight me face-to-face. Don’t hide behind a false sense of camaraderie. Don’t turn a game about loot into a playground for cowardice.

I once went in with randoms—my mic was broken, so I had to rely on the in-game emote system to communicate. One of my teammates was a kid, and I found myself protecting him. But then there was the other one. The traitor. He found another squad, lied about being solo, and turned them against us. He told them we tried to kill him, and they believed him. They came for us, and just like that, we were dead.

In Arc Raiders, the greatest danger isn’t the Arc. It’s the players who will do anything for loot—even betray their own. The game’s about looting, but it’s also about navigating a world where trust can disappear in an instant. And sometimes, the most dangerous thing on the map isn’t the Arc. It’s the raiders who’ll do anything for a chance at your gear.

It’s a reminder that every game has its share of darkness. Arc Raiders is a great game with a ton of potential, but it’s also become a place where the PvP side, for some, has shifted from collaboration to manipulation.