Some ARC Raiders players are convinced that the game’s most terrifying machines — the so-called Emperors — are no longer just background scenery, and it could spell big things for the future of the extraction shooter.
Since launching in October 2025, ARC Raiders has quickly become one of the industry’s biggest success stories. The online extraction shooter closed out the year by winning Best Multiplayer Game at The Game Awards, and it’s easy to see why. The game reportedly peaked at nearly 500,000 concurrent players at launch, and its player retention remains remarkably strong, with over 410,000 players active in the last 24 hours at the time of writing.
Beyond its tense firefights and unpredictable player encounters, one of ARC Raiders’ standout features is its world — a haunting, evolving setting that feels alive and deeply mysterious.
A World That Feels Like It’s Watching You
“Explore four distinct maps at launch, with more to be revealed as the underground society evolves and expands its reach,” reads the game’s official description. “Each destination carries the weight of a world twice-destroyed, and the scars of conflicts both old and new.”
Dynamic weather, shifting enemy placements, and evolving map conditions ensure that no two raids are the same — and it’s within this ever-changing world that players have started to notice something unsettling.
What Are the Emperors?
“Emperors” is the community-given name for enormous mechanical ARC units that resemble colossal spider-like machines. They’re impossible to miss — towering over the landscape, often seen lumbering across the horizon in the distance.
According to players, Emperors are estimated to be around ten times larger than Queen ARCs, and while they haven’t directly attacked yet, their presence alone is enough to raise alarms.
Am I going crazy or are the Emperors getting closer?
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Now, players believe those massive machines may be getting closer.
“Am I going crazy, or are the Emperors getting closer?” asked Reddit user Rageoffreys, kicking off a discussion that quickly gained traction.
Others were quick to agree — albeit with some humor.
“I personally think they are… but we can’t rule out you being crazy,” joked Winter_Trainer_2115.
“They’re just walking… menacingly,” added Yuanshaosvassal.
“Been getting closer to every update,” claimed Sugary_Plumbs.
Is an Emperor Invasion Coming?
Speculation is only growing thanks to recent updates. The current season, Headwinds, was followed by a February update titled Shrouded Sky — wording that has players convinced something major is being deliberately hidden.
Adding fuel to the fire, the ARC Raiders roadmap lists a February event simply titled “New ARC Threat.” Naturally, many players believe the Emperors are being set up as the next major escalation.
Whether this means a full-scale invasion, a new boss encounter, or a dramatic world event remains to be seen — but the signs suggest something big could be looming on the horizon.
ARC Raiders is available now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
