Embark Studios has unveiled some intriguing statistics from their latest community event in Arc Raiders, titled Breaking New Ground. Among the millions of players who participated, an astonishing 117 players inadvertently knocked themselves out using volcanic rocks, which are items that can be thrown to inflict damage in the game.
Volcanic rocks, while effective in combat, can malfunction when thrown directly upwards, potentially bouncing back onto the player or landing on them. This has led to an unusual and somewhat humorous situation, where players found themselves downed by their own miscalculations.
As the news broke, players flocked to social media platforms to share their thoughts and experiences regarding this peculiar occurrence. Many expressed surprise at how 117 players managed to accidentally take themselves out with rocks. One player, identifying as one of the unfortunate 117, recounted their incident, attributing it to a “collision glitch” that launched them skywards, albeit without video proof or the ability to replicate the glitch afterward.
However, skepticism arose from another player who questioned whether all 117 incidents were solely due to self-inflicted wounds. They suggested that the game may have had issues with damage attribution, recounting that before server downtime, their gameplay indicated they had downed themselves multiple times without any external causes such as grenades or explosions.
In addition to the technical glitches, there were also instances of simple player error. One player shared a lighthearted tale of their own mishap while waiting for a friend who had stepped away. In a moment of curiosity, they threw a rock towards their absent friend, only for it to ricochet and strike them instead. While this incident led to their character bleeding out before their friend returned, they noted that the other character emerged unscathed.
This event not only highlights the wacky unpredictability of video game mechanics but also strengthens the community bond as players come together to share their humorous, relatable stories. As the Arc Raiders community continues to grow, events like Breaking New Ground serve as a reminder of the adventure – and occasional mishaps – that gaming brings to its players.