The PC version of Arc Raiders is introducing the controversial anti-cheat tool Denuvo in a new update rolling out across the extraction shooter.
Following prior attempts to quash cheaters within the online multiplayer game, including with the team’s own machine learning powered anti-cheat solutions, Embark is rolling out Denuvo support in its game starting today on May 19, 2026.
In a recent blog post alongside the game’s 1.29.0 patch notes, Embark confirmed that the technology will be added to the game without its controversial “digital rights management (DRM) service” to ensure a “minimal impact on performance”.
The developer adds that the tool’s inclusion in Arc Raiders comes “following a positive rollout in THE FINALS”. While Denuvo anti-cheat will be used in the game, it also won’t be the only cheat-detection solution running in the background. The studio will also continue using Anybrain to further strengthen its anti-cheat systems.
Right now, the introduction of Denuvo anti-cheat is rolling out to a “limited player pool with plans to expand after close monitoring”. If the new system results in too many false reports, it will likely be removed.
Right now, the new anti-cheat solution is expected to be more present in high-aggression lobbies as those are typically more populated with cheaters. However, considering the fact the new cheat detection tool is designed to work across the entirety of Arc Raiders, it will likely be present in other titles as well.
As Embark noted, there shouldn’t be a major performance dip to players on PC while using Denuvo anti-cheat. While not as prominent as Easy Anti-Cheat or Vanguard, there are a few games that do make use of this specific cheat detection software without a major performance detriment. (You can check a full list of anti-cheat solutions at the brilliant PC Gaming Wiki!)
Of course, the bigger issue is that Denuvo anti-cheat is a kernel-level solution which gives the game OS-level permissions. This also means that Arc Raiders may prevent players on Linux from enjoying the extraction shooter as kernel-level anti-cheats are largely incompatible the operating system. Finally, even with these permissions, cheaters are still present in the game.
Nevertheless, as cheating continues to become more rampant within Arc Raiders, the community is largely happy with the change. Cheaters have become a major issue with Embark’s extraction shooter since launch, and multiple updates to the game’s cheat detection software have failed to catch everyone. Hopefully, despite the negatives of this change, cheating will be somewhat less prominent.
