- Primary Subject: ARC Raiders
- Key Update: Embark has begun issuing warnings, removing illegitimate currency, and suspending heavy abusers following its hotfix.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: February 18, 2026
- Quick Answer: Embark has shifted from patching the dupe glitch to actively enforcing penalties, using a tiered system based on the scale and intent of abuse.
Embark Studios has officially moved from patching to policing after ARC Raiders’ duplication exploit spiraled into one of the game’s biggest integrity crises yet.
Following the release of a hotfix that closed the loophole, the studio confirmed that it has begun issuing warnings, removing illegitimate currency, and suspending players who abused the system at scale.
The response marks the first time Embark has handled exploit enforcement at this magnitude in ARC Raiders, and the studio says it deliberately took time to review internal data before acting rather than rushing out blanket bans.
How Did the Duplication Glitch Actually Work — and Why Was It So Damaging?
The duplication glitch wasn’t a small issue, as it let players repeatedly copy quick-use items like grenades and other deployables by abusing how inventory stacks functioned.
In practice, this meant players could flood PvP encounters with far more explosives or utility tools than the game’s balance ever intended.
Fights that are supposed to revolve around careful resource management suddenly turned into chaotic bombardments.
Aside from combat imbalance, the exploit severely impacted the in-game economy, as duplicated high-value items were sold to merchants for large amounts of Coins, disrupting progression.
In an extraction shooter built on risk versus reward, unlimited resources break the core design.
Why Did Enforcement Take Longer Than the Patch?
Embark shut down the exploit swiftly once it gained traction, though enforcement took more time as the studio worked through reports and determined the scale of abuse.
That process included identifying players who only encountered duplicated items incidentally versus those who repeatedly and deliberately abused the glitch for gain.
The outcome seems to be a tiered enforcement approach, where minor involvement earns warnings and heavy exploitation leads to suspensions.
Coins tied to duplication activity are being removed, effectively rolling back illegitimate profit.
However, the controversy isn’t limited to how the crackdown is being handled, as creators who used the exploit on stream are now at the center of the backlash.
Some players claim high-profile streamers pushed the issue into the spotlight and pressured Embark to act faster, while others argue that seeing the exploit used on major platforms only encouraged thousands of viewers to copy it before it was patched.
This has raised difficult questions about consistency. If major creators receive lighter penalties (or none at all) regular players may interpret that as favoritism.
On the other hand, aggressively banning prominent figures could hurt the game’s visibility and momentum. It’s a no-win scenario that puts Embark in a delicate position.
For more like this, stick with us here at Gfinityesports.com, the best website for gaming news.