ARC Raiders fan creates detailed new robot concepts

The world of ARC Raiders is populated by diverse robots that roam the wastelands and dictate their own rules. However, players want even more variety and are ready to offer their own ideas.

Gamer EthanDavidUnderhill took on creating concepts for potentially new ARCs, and some of them look genuinely interesting. So far, the enthusiast has presented six detailed variants that would fit into the game.

One of the most devious concepts is the Widow – a rust-colored spider-like robot with eight limbs and a two-segment body. The machine is designed to be light and stealthy: for rapid movement, it folds its legs inward, transforming into a compact sphere that quietly rolls across terrain, indistinguishable from ordinary tumbleweed. Upon detecting a raider, the Widow rams its victim, bounces back, and unfolds its limbs while extending a small circular saw. The robot chaotically darts across the ground, attacking with its spinning blade until destroyed. In deployed state, the machine emits a piercing metallic noise, but while rolled up remains completely stealthy. It has 65 health points and light armor on its chest.

Even more sinister is the Parrot – a medium-category robot that disguises itself as a rusted metal cube, indistinguishable from an ordinary loot container. In sleep mode, the machine plays audio recordings of fallen raiders, mimicking common voice lines to lure victims. When a player approaches within several meters, the Parrot unfolds into a four-limbed crab capable of launching canisters with toxic gas that blurs vision and slows movement. Raiders affected by the gas are rapidly pursued by the machine, which attacks with small blades on the ends of its legs. If players retreat and the Parrot loses interest, it returns to a dark location and assumes cube form again. By design, the robot has 280 health and heavy armor when in cube form, but it significantly weakens after transformation.

Among aerial concepts stands out the Vagrant – a slow-moving dirigible robot suspended on 12 propellers. The machine constantly analyzes the air and releases counteracting agents, pesticides, caustic fog, or vision-reducing smog depending on environmental conditions. The Vagrant ignores raider activity and doesn't react to taking or dealing damage – it simply performs its territory cleanup function. However, the robot's activity unintentionally creates hazardous zones, reducing visibility, depleting stamina, dealing damage through shields, or rapidly corroding equipment. When destroyed, the machine explodes, releasing dense toxic gas. It has 300 health points and light armor on the propellers.

The Basilisk is a 3-meter mechanical snake made of segmented metal cylinders. The robot specializes in ambushes, hiding underwater or coiled on trees before attacking. The machine delivers quick strikes with its clawed "snout" featuring a central sensor eye, and can also coil around raiders and squeeze them, dealing damage over time similar to Tick. When critically damaged, the Basilisk retreats while releasing poisonous gas from its tail that depletes stamina. The robot prefers to remain in ambush and is designed to block human access to water resources and fresh food. It has 130 health points and minimal armor to maintain flexibility.

Other proposed concepts range from literal fighter jets to reinforced versions of Snitchers. The ideas are worked out in such detail that it would be disappointing not to see them in the game in at least some form.

For now, Embark Studios is in no hurry to add new robots. Some, like the theoretical Emperor that can be seen in the distance on The Blue Gate map, remain merely the subject of theories among players.

New ARCs will likely appear later, when developers shift their focus from game mechanics to content expansion.