Here’s What You’re Actually Missing Going Mic-less in ARC Raiders

As an extraction shooter, one might have expected ARC Raiders to be a little more niche than it ended up becoming. While the genre’s popularity has been increasing with games like Escape From Tarkov surfacing, the chance of it achieving mainstream popularity didn’t look quite as possible as it has lately with the release of ARC Raiders. This is largely because Embark Studios’ take on the extraction shooter formula has made it more accessible than previous giants in the genre, which has inadvertently led to high player counts and praise coming from a much larger audience.

For one thing, ARC Raiders isn’t as punishing as extraction shooters tend to be, as it rewards players for playing the game rather than being perfect at it. Even more so, however, ARC Raiders makes its PvP experience more welcoming to a broader range of players, not only by making its PvE elements challenging enough to keep competitive veterans on their toes, but also by giving players tools that can help prevent a fight with another player before it even starts.

Not everyone wants to jump on voice chat with strangers in a game, for one reason or another, whether they’re more introverted, afraid of confrontation, or simply can’t because they’re not playing in an environment that allows them to. That’s where ARC Raiders‘ character emotes come in, a portion of which are useful for maintaining friendly relations with other players on the surface. Emotes like “Don’t shoot!” and “Team up?” help players more easily manage the PvP tension of ARC Raiders, to the point that what conflicts might have been are turned into symbiotic partnerships. Even with such helpful communication options, though, players who prefer to go mic-less in ARC Raiders might not even realize what they’re missing.

Why You Shouldn’t Go Mic-Less in ARC Raiders

• Proximity chat makes the experience more immersive
• Using a mic allows players to communicate more clearly than emotes alone can
• ARC Raiders’ proximity chat can lead to unforgettable moments

ARC Raiders’ Emotes Are Good, But Voice Chat Is Better

ARC Raiders‘ proximity chat is actually a core part of the whole experience. It’s not the first game to implement such a feature, but it is nonetheless an integral element that is more than worth taking advantage of. Firstly, proximity chat in ARC Raiders adds a layer of immersion to the experience that players can’t get by using emotes alone. With it active, players are more likely to feel like they are actually in the game, as one of the Raiders fighting for their own survival and the prosperity of Speranza. But that is far from the only benefit of using a mic in ARC Raiders.

Perhaps more importantly, while using the “Don’t shoot!” and “Team up?” emotes in ARC Raiders can both prevent confrontation and inspire cooperation, using a mic gives players a chance to communicate more clearly with one another, since the emotes themselves are naturally limited. This takes potential partnerships to an entirely different level, as players can help one another with certain quests, work together to defeat a massive machine like ARC Raiders‘ new Matriarch, or simply offer a friendlier greeting than “Hey, Raider.”

Of course, even with proximity chat active, players aren’t guaranteed a confrontation-less journey Topside, as some of the more competitive players in ARC Raiders will still grab any opportunity they can to get the loot on another Raider’s body. Even some who might initially say “Friendly” into their mic will then turn their backs on naive players who take them for their word. That being said, with teamwork being even more possible when communicating through a mic, there is less chance that things will take a turn for the worse.

There’s also the entertainment value that comes with using proximity chat in Embark’s extraction shooter. Lately, clips of ARC Raiders have been going viral, but what makes them so popular is not just some player defeating a machine or acquiring a rare find. Rather, these clips achieve virality by being hilarious, thanks to the interactions of players using mics. Many players have taken proximity chat in ARC Raiders to the next level by role-playing as Raiders with families they have to feed or who are simply doing it for the glory of Speranza and what remains of humanity.

Going mic-less in ARC Raiders doesn’t ruin the experience, but it can cause players to miss a whole side of the extraction shooter that is worth experiencing. The emotes are helpful, and the core loop still works well, but the moments that happen through proximity chat are what give the game its personality. The quick calls for help, the tense negotiations, and the ridiculous role-play bits all add something that players don’t always expect from an extraction shooter. ARC Raiders feels fuller and more alive when players use their voices to communicate with one another, and anyone who has only relied on emotes may be surprised by how much they enjoy the game once they finally turn their mic on.

Released

October 30, 2025

ESRB

Teen / Violence, Blood