My best moments with ARC Raiders Items exist in spite of other players, not because of them. The world is a dizzying and immersive experience, where every single raid feels like a challenge. Even if the missions themselves are repetitive and shallow, it always feels like a joy to dive in and hope that a leaping robot spider doesn't chase us to our deaths.

Sadly, these excursions usually end with groups of angry young men ganging up on others, happily ignoring pleas to just let others enjoy the game on their own terms. Usually these moments are accompanied by slurs and toxic screaming on the voice chat, which is a sad necessity, as the limited pre-recorded dialog doesn't convey enough to smooth these situations when they occur.

If there was an alternative PVE mode or map, this wouldn't be an issue. Everyone is free to enjoy their experience how they see fit. But Arc Raiders does not offer that choice. Instead, there's a sense the developers enjoy the grief caused by bad actors playing their game. After all, everyone's talking about it.

There's barely any story to speak of, and most probably won't bother with the flavor texts or characters in Speranza, humanity's last haven underground. Missions follow the same strict paths as in any other game of this type, and despite the multiplayer aspect of it all, it never feels like you're actually making any kind of difference in this world. That's because you really can't. This is a static experience with the potential for subjectively great moments.

When you reach the end of the repetitive mission cycle, all Arc Raiders offers is the chance to restart the whole thing over again. A reset is offered every few months to allow new players a chance to join in. But that feels like a bandaid trying to cover a gaping wound. The maps themselves won't change, and those that get enjoyment out of crummy behavior will just keep at it because this is familiar turf for them.

With little incentives to play nice, buy ARC Raiders Loot becomes just another extraction shooter in different clothing. Yes, it's beautiful and imaginative clothing, but it's all the same cut and make in the end.