FEBRUARY 10-24
Event Details
- Start Date: February 10
- End Date: February 24
- Primary Focus: PvE
Embark Studios Introduces the Shared Watch Event in ARC Raiders
Embark Studios has introduced a new initiative for its multiplayer shooter ARC Raiders. The developers have acknowledged growing tension between players who focus on hunting other Raiders and those who prefer battling massive ARC machines. To shift attention toward teamwork, the studio is launching a special event called Shared Watch, aimed at encouraging cooperative gameplay.
ARC Raiders Shared Watch Event Overview
The Shared Watch Event will run from February 10 through February 24. During this time, players are encouraged to work together against the ARC threat. Progress and rewards are earned by engaging ARC units rather than competing with other players, reinforcing cooperation over rivalry.
Rewards for Team-Oriented Play
Players participating in Shared Watch can earn a variety of rewards by collaborating with others, including:
- New cosmetic items
- Raider Tokens
- Progress toward the exclusive cosmetic set known as The Slugger
To unlock these rewards, players must earn Merits, which are awarded through experience points (XP) gained by damaging and destroying ARC enemies. The event’s core objective is to promote a gameplay environment where players unite against a shared enemy instead of turning on one another.
Purpose of the Event
Embark Studios wants cooperation to feel rewarding rather than forced. By offering valuable loot, the developers hope to re-engage players, especially those frustrated with frequent player-versus-player encounters, and encourage a more positive multiplayer experience. The outcome of the event will help determine whether this approach improves player engagement and strengthens the overall community.
Platform Availability and Gameplay Features
ARC Raiders is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with full cross-play support, allowing players across different platforms to team up or compete together. As the Shared Watch Event begins, players will be watching closely to see how this initiative affects gameplay dynamics and cooperation within ARC Raiders.
Fan Theories Surrounding Shared Watch 🎥
After the event was revealed, players quickly began speculating about what Shared Watch might introduce from a gameplay perspective. Some believe the event could allow solo players to temporarily pair up with random teammates, forming short-term duos that encourage cooperation without requiring pre-made squads.
Others suggested the event might be connected to a photo mode or a more cinematic-style feature, pointing to the teaser’s artistic presentation, which stood out from previous promotional material. However, this idea seems unlikely, as the official description places a strong emphasis on teaming up to fight ARC machines rather than focusing on visual capture or creative tools.
So far, Embark Studios has not confirmed whether Shared Watch will add any new systems or mechanics beyond rewarding cooperative play.
Community Reaction and PvE Concerns 🔥
Despite its cooperative focus, Shared Watch has already generated noticeable backlash across ARC Raiders’ social media channels. Many community discussions highlight ongoing frustration over the lack of a dedicated PvE-only mode.
Some players feel the event functions as a workaround rather than a real solution, encouraging less PvP without fully removing it. Others report declining matchmaking quality, claiming that players looking for cooperation are increasingly placed into matches dominated by aggressive, PvP-focused raiders.
There are also concerns that the event’s mechanics could be abused. One widely shared comment warns that PvP-oriented players may pretend to cooperate only to betray teammates later.
These concerns have echoed throughout the community, with many players once again calling on Embark Studios to introduce permanent PvE or non-PvP playlists, instead of relying on limited-time events like Shared Watch to shape player behavior.
