Arc Raiders' Shared Watch Event: How a PvE-Focused Update Reinforces the Game's Cooperative Vision

In the extraction shooter genre, where tension is often defined by the ever-present threat of other players, Arc Raiders has carved a distinct niche with its PvPvE sandbox. Embark Studios' debut is now conducting a fascinating two-week experiment that asks: what happens if you temporarily remove that PvP threat? The launch of the limited-time "Shared Watch" event on February 10, 2026, rewrites the game's core incentives. This PvE-focused initiative is more than just new content; it's a deliberate test of player psychology and a clear signal of the studio's confidence in their game's cooperative foundation.

The Shared Watch Event - A Temporary Shift to Pure PvE

Running until February 24, the "Shared Watch" event introduces a clear, deliberate shift in objectives. Progression is tied to an event-specific currency called Merits, which can only be acquired through cooperative actions against the game's robotic ARC adversaries:

• Damaging ARC machines.
• Destroying or killing ARC enemies.
• Assisting in ARC kills.

The design choice is unambiguous: Player-versus-player (PvP) combat grants zero Merits and does not contribute to event progress. This directly inverts a common extraction shooter loop, pushing players to see each other as potential allies rather than primary threats.

The rewards are designed for broad appeal, headlined by the "The Slugger," a complete baseball umpire-themed outfit. The track also includes practical blueprints for a Healing augment and Vita Sprays, alongside Raider Tokens and crafting materials. By offering these substantial rewards without a direct purchase option, Embark is using this event as a pure engagement play—an experiment in player behavior made possible by a live-service model focused on long-term health. The studio has been clear that this is a temporary event, not a permanent mode, reiterating that the inherent tension of the PvPvE sandbox remains core to Arc Raiders' identity.

Update 1.15.0 - Balancing Acts and Preparing the Ground

The Shared Watch event launched alongside Game Update 1.15.0, a patch that laid crucial groundwork. The most significant change was a comprehensive rebalance of the Trailblazer Grenade. Its explosions no longer deal damage through walls, fixing a frustrating loophole. Its damage profile was also adjusted: it now deals more damage to smaller enemies but less to larger threats like Leapers and Bastions, forcing a reconsideration of its strategic use.

Quietly, the update increased the number of security breach spawns in key rooms, an unlisted change that makes thorough exploration more consistently rewarding. Alongside key fixes for weapon cycling and reconnection issues, the update added the new Vulpine cosmetic set. Overall, Update 1.15.0 functions as a stability and balance "bridge," preparing the ecosystem for the larger shift promised later in the month.

The Studio's Strategy: Experimentation and a Curated Approach

The Shared Watch event reflects Embark's strategic approach to its live-service title. CEO Patrick Söderlund's recent comments illuminate the philosophy, contrasting Arc Raiders' "curated" cosmetic approach with a high-volume "Fortnite-style" model. This focus allows for experiments like Shared Watch, which is not heavily leveraged for microtransactions but is instead a tool to gather data on player engagement with pure PvE objectives within the PvPvE framework.

This experimental freedom is a hallmark of a studio thinking long-term. Embark has confirmed that two new games are already in development, a vote of confidence from parent company Nexon. In this context, Shared Watch is a low-risk, high-insight experiment. It tests the community's appetite for cooperative play without the pressure of monetization driving the design, all while maintaining engagement between major content drops.

Looking Ahead: Events, Resets, and the Shrouded Sky

For dedicated players, Embark included an important caveat: blueprints earned from the Shared Watch event will be lost if a player resets their character for the upcoming "Second Expedition." This creates a meaningful choice for veterans weighing short-term gains against a fresh start.

The event period also sees the return of the "Cold Snap" map condition, reintroducing its risk/reward loop of frostbite danger versus greater loot potential. All of this serves as a prelude to the imminent "Shrouded Sky" update, slated for later in February. This major expansion promises a new storm-based environmental hazard, a new aerial ARC threat, and significant map changes.

The Shared Watch event is a deliberate and insightful pivot for Arc Raiders. It demonstrates Embark Studios' confidence in their core PvPvE loop by temporarily removing one of its key pillars, not to replace it, but to strengthen the cooperative muscles of its community. The event's reception and the data it yields, combined with the impending arrival of Shrouded Sky, will be key indicators of how this unique entry plans to evolve and sustain its position in the competitive extraction shooter genre.

Tags: Arc Raiders, Shared Watch Event, Cooperative Gameplay, PvE, Game Updates