It turns out that exploits and glitches aren't the only problems ARC Raiders Unplayable for anyone, as thousands of fans are now asking Embark Studios to fix the game's lighting issues. The debate is over ARC Raiders’ The default brilliance dates back to its early days and continues to this day.
Initially, many PC gamers turned to NVIDIA's game filters to take matters into their own hands and improve game lighting. This created a PvP imbalance, as console players had limited options while PC users could max out their gamma settings and see almost the entire map clearly, even at night. NVIDIA filters were subsequently disabled ARC RaidersIt is possible to maintain balance and fairness. Now, many fans believe that if Embark wants them to stop using peripherals, this issue needs to be properly addressed.
ARC Raiders rolls out another hotfix after the February update
ARC Raiders' latest patch fixes another game-breaking issue that emerged after the duplication exploit, but fans still seem concerned.
Fans consider ARC Raiders to be a lighting problem
Reddit user Cactus_on_Fire shared a complaint titled “Embark, your lighting”, talking about how dark areas on the map are hurting the player experience. “Your game readability suffers from messy and terrible lighting,” the post reads, following comments about how PC players rely on gamma settings and third-party tools to see a few feet ahead. The post has surpassed 16,000 upvotes, suggesting that a large portion of the community needs Embark Studios to take action.
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According to fans, this issue will get more attention ARC Raiders' Electromagnetic Storm and Night Raid maps, where darkness makes it extremely difficult to spot enemies. Since the early days of the game, campers have taken advantage of this by hiding in shady corners and picking off unsuspecting attackers nearby.
One of the top comments under the post also pointed out that firing the weapon leaves a thick smoke that obscures vision. In short, many players feel that poor lighting combined with gun smoke makes PvP encounters frustratingly difficult. Others argue that current lighting would be more tolerable if at least one player's gadget was more efficient.
ARC Raiders' flashlights fail to fill the gap
One player argues that the issue is made worse by flashlights, which only illuminate a narrow radius. “I'm fine with how dark the game is, but the flashlight really needs to work properly,” they say, adding that Embark Studios should at least extend the gadget's effective range so that it can better compensate for poor lighting in some areas of the map.
Some players favor the current lighting of ARC Rider
While thousands want Embark Studios to improve the game's lighting, some fans disagree. One user responded to a Reddit post saying, “This is for balance. The difference in light between the interior and exterior areas is intentional, so you can't shoot the raider outside without fully exposing yourself to the window. The dark spots inside are meant to be illuminated by your flashlight, making you more visible. This is on purpose.”
Their comment has nearly 4,000 upvotes, indicating that many players are satisfied with the current lighting. However, others have pushed back, arguing that default lighting is unbalanced. For example, it is very easy to spot enemies outside by hiding in dark corners inside buildings. Additionally, current settings often push players to use third-party apps to adjust or improve monitor brightness. ARC Raiders'Visibility, lighting suggestion is not as balanced as some claims.
Embark Studios' track record does not suggest a 'bright' future
When describing the design philosophy behind ARC Raiders’ Universe, Embark Studios said, “[the game’s world is] A celebration of nature's majesty, which can be felt in vivid natural light, gorgeous skies, and nature reclaiming man's influence.” Meanwhile, a look at the studio's past patches. ARC Raiders It often shows reduced lighting in various map modifications, to achieve a more “realistic” feel.
For example, on January 13, 2026, the Swedish developer released patch 1.11.0, which dimmed the lighting in parts of Stella Montis Night Raids to make the flashlights and footsteps sounds more prominent. Later, on January 27, patch 1.13.0 adjusted night raid lighting again by turning off most lights. While this update included some light polish, players didn't see any significant improvements.
Given the studio's track record and commitment to this core design philosophy, these drastic changes ARC Raiders'Light is not possible in the near future. Still, many fans continue to express frustration with the default brightness and illumination, hoping that the developer will finally listen and make adjustments.
- issued
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October 30, 2025
- ESRB
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Juvenile / violence, blood
