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‘I swore something was off’: ARC Raiders players beg devs to revert graphics downgrade

ARC Raiders' open beta is slowly drawing to a close. The game's less than two weeks away from release, and fans are eager to hop into the full experience. However, eagle-eyed players have noticed something different about the game: the graphics are worse than they used to be, by a lot According to a keen-eyed player who shared their findings on ARC Raiders' official subreddit, the game seems to have significantly downgraded its graphics since the last technical test. While before it had luscious and realistic foliage and strong, atmospheric volumetrics to boot, this current iteration of the title seems to be lacking in both. Comparison images show that, during the second technical test, ARC Raiders' foliage had a lot more texture, depth, and realism to it, whereas now it appears more jagged and game-y. Likewise, the prior instance has heavy volumetric fog, which significantly improves the atmosphere of a swampy marshland, but the current version has next to none of it. Graphical downgrades are nothing new in video games and are done all the time, but it appeared that Embark Studios had no particular reason for doing so, given how well the game performs and how much the devs have spent on optimization overall. And it might just be that this wasn't intended. OssenJ, Embark's community lead, commented on another report that ARC Raiders appears to have been downgraded, chiefly regarding its shading and lighting. "The team will look into this, thanks for letting us know," she wrote. Visibility might have also been a reason for the devs to reduce foliage density and fog, ARC Raiders being a PVP shooter and all. However, the poorly-rendered, jagged, and shimmering foliage does tell me things weren't done for the sake of improved PVP, as it's an overall eyesore and takes a lot away from the experience. Having less realistic and rarer foliage, as well as removing volumetrics almost entirely, can and will improve fps on less capable machines like consoles. ARC Raiders is already a well-polished, highly optimized game, so it doesn't make much sense to see devs sacrifice graphical fidelity and compromise the style they've worked so hard to establish just so they could squeeze out a few frames per seconds more on average. Whether intended or not, the fact remains that ARC Raiders' current version isn't its prettiest, and I certainly hope the devs officially address player concerns, as the game is, in more ways than one, one of the most promising titles of this year. Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches! The post 'I swore something was off': ARC Raiders players beg devs to revert graphics downgrade appeared first on Destructoid.

admin October 19, 2025

ARC Raiders’ open beta is slowly drawing to a close. With less than two weeks remaining until the game’s official release, fans are eager to dive into the full experience. However, some eagle-eyed players have noticed a significant change: the graphics appear to be worse than they used to be—by quite a margin.

According to a perceptive player who shared their observations on ARC Raiders’ official subreddit, the game has notably downgraded its graphics since the last technical test. Previously, the game featured lush, realistic foliage and strong, atmospheric volumetric effects. In the current version, both of these elements seem to be lacking.

Comparison images reveal that during the second technical test, ARC Raiders’ foliage displayed more texture, depth, and realism. Now, it looks jagged and noticeably more “game-y.” Similarly, the earlier build included heavy volumetric fog that greatly enhanced the swampy marshland atmosphere. The current iteration, however, has almost none of that fog effect.

Graphical downgrades are not uncommon in video games and often happen for various optimization reasons. However, in this case, it appears that Embark Studios may not have had a clear reason for the reduction. The game still performs well overall, and the developers have invested heavily in optimization.

OssenJ, Embark’s community lead, responded to reports about the downgrade—particularly concerning shading and lighting—stating, “The team will look into this, thanks for letting us know.”

One possibility is that the changes were intended to improve visibility, given that ARC Raiders is a PvP shooter. Lowering foliage density and reducing fog could help players spot opponents more easily. That said, the current foliage’s poorly-rendered, jagged, and shimmering appearance suggests the changes were not purely for improving PvP gameplay, as it detracts significantly from the visual experience.

Reducing realistic and dense foliage and almost removing volumetrics can indeed boost frames per second (FPS) on less capable machines, such as consoles. Yet, since ARC Raiders is already well-polished and highly optimized, it’s puzzling why the developers would sacrifice graphical fidelity and the distinctive style they’ve worked hard to establish just to gain a few extra FPS.

Whether intentional or not, the fact remains that ARC Raiders’ current version isn’t its prettiest. Hopefully, the developers will officially address player concerns soon—especially since this game remains one of the most promising titles of the year in more ways than one.
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