Embark, the creators of Arc Raiders, have announced a significant escalation in their battle against in-game cheating. The new policy specifically targets Steam Family Sharing, aiming to eliminate a loophole that previously allowed suspended players to re-enter the game through shared accounts. This initiative is part of a broader commitment to cultivate a fair and enjoyable gaming experience for all participants.
Previously, players banned from Arc Raiders could bypass their suspensions by accessing the game through Steam Family Sharing from another account within their linked group. Embark's community manager, Ossen, revealed in a Discord announcement that this exploit has now been addressed. Under the revised rules, any account suspended for cheating will trigger an automatic suspension for all associated accounts within that Steam Family Sharing group. This means that a cheater's actions will now have consequences for everyone linked to their shared game library.
The updated system enforces several key restrictions. If a player incurs a ban while playing Arc Raiders via a shared Steam Family license, all other accounts within that family will also face restrictions. Furthermore, if the primary owner of the game license receives a ban, they will no longer be able to share Arc Raiders through Steam Family Sharing. Any individual who was accessing the game through this feature will then be required to purchase their own copy to continue playing, and they must wait for any existing game ban on their account to lapse.
These measures are a direct response to the persistent cheating issues that have plagued Arc Raiders since its launch. The development team has previously tried various methods to combat cheaters, including in-game punishments and comprehensive ban waves, and has openly acknowledged the severity of the problem. High-profile streamers have also reported numerous encounters with players using illicit software, highlighting the urgent need for more robust enforcement. The new Steam Family Sharing policy is designed to be inescapable, ensuring that even if restricted parties are removed from a family sharing plan, the ban duration will still apply to their individual accounts.
This aggressive stance from Embark, while stringent, is considered a necessary step to protect the integrity of Arc Raiders. By directly addressing the family sharing loophole, the developers aim to send a clear message that cheating will not be tolerated and that their priority remains providing a competitive and equitable environment for all legitimate players.