ARC Raiders has given me an ethical dilemma I don’t usually experience in videogames: Should I be the good or the bad guy?
For the past few days, I have been vicariously observing other players’ styles in ARC Raiders’ PvP. Some play the role of a “Sheriff,” keeping the peace around the Rust Belt and helping Raiders who get ambushed by Arcs or rival teams. Others, on the other hand, are the type that “shoot first, ask questions later.”
I’m conflicted about which role I should take.
As a solo player most of the time, playing ARC Raiders feels like a survival horror game. You’re never quite sure if the first player you see is hostile or friendly. I tend to be the conversational type when it comes to games with proximity chat, but ARC Raiders is my first extraction shooter game, and the rules for being a “talker” don’t always apply in its dog-eat-dog world.
The first time I encounter a solo player in the wilds, I’m met with a flurry of gunfire. Naive old me would hit up the “Don’t shoot!” emote, thinking I could still de-escalate the situation. Unfortunately, these folks don’t care much for diplomacy. They are in it for the love of the game.
There are, of course, wholesome moments in the game. One time, I met a friendly raider who just wanted to hang out and loot stuff together. We chatted about where to go next or which Arc we need to take down as a team. Raiders nearby overheard our conversation and joined in to help us quell the clanker threat around the Rust Belt. It was fun while it lasted.
As much as I enjoy this split community of positive and hostile players, I can’t help but feel torn between two sides here. I, for one, relish the idea of going guns blazing, but I don’t want to feel bad when I knock down an honest Raider just doing their daily quests. Sometimes I even tell myself I’ll go full evil mode after being taken out mid-extraction, only to change my mind once I start a new run.
There was even one time I had to take down a peaceful Raider after spending our time exploring the Dam Complex. I don’t know what came over me, but an instinctual “I need to shoot this guy first before he shoots me” feeling happened, and I decided to take him down. The proximity voice chat wasn’t helping either, as he was calling me names before I sent him back to Speranza. Honestly? That made me feel bad.
Feelings of betrayal happen in a game like this. I know that this is just a videogame, but it felt like the human instinct of fight or flight goes into full effect whenever you encounter another player. ARC Raiders is full of moments like these, and it’s one of the reasons why the game is enjoyed by many. You never really know what’s going to happen in each run.
The sheer amount of player choice on display in ARC Raiders is what makes it so engaging. I’m still conflicted which personality I should go for, but at least I know that this extraction shooter is filled with all kinds of interesting people. And I tend to discover them to make the experience worth it.
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