Network Issue ARC Raiders

ARAU0297 Connection Error and Queue - ARC Raiders Server Fix Guide

📅 Published: 2026-02-05 🔄 Updated: 2026-02-05 👥 Reports: 31 ⚡ Severity: 🔴 High

🎯 Quick Answer

The ARAU0297 error and persistent queue indicate a widespread server outage, which is resolved by waiting for developer restoration and verifying service status via official channels.

SECTION 1: OVERVIEW

The ARAU0297 error code in ARC Raiders signifies a failure to establish a connection between the game client and the remote game servers. This problem manifests as an inability to join matches, followed by placement in a non-progressing queue state within the launcher or game interface. The issue affects the Windows platform exclusively, as ARC Raiders is currently available only on PC via Steam and the Embark Launcher. This error occurs across all game versions post-launch and is classified as a common occurrence during periods of server instability. The severity is game-breaking, as it completely prevents access to online gameplay. The primary observable error is the ARAU0297 code. Secondary symptoms include an "In queue" message with no estimated time and generic connection failure notifications during matchmaking attempts.

SECTION 2: SYMPTOMS

The application displays an "In queue" status message on the game launcher with no progression or estimated wait time. Upon attempting to initiate a matchmaking session or log into the game service, the system returns a connection error. The specific error code ARAU0297 appears in the error dialog or notification. The network handshake with the authentication and game session servers times out. The client remains in a retry loop, repeatedly attempting to establish a connection without success. No gameplay session is initialized, and the user interface may become unresponsive to cancel commands. The process terminates at the main menu or launcher screen with no further diagnostic information presented to the end-user.

SECTION 3: COMMON CAUSES

Category: Infrastructure Outage Specific technical explanation: Widespread failure of Amazon Web Services (AWS) infrastructure in a specific region (e.g., eu-west-2 for London, us-east-1 for North Virginia). ARC Raiders servers operate on AWS, and an outage in the relevant availability zones causes all dependent game instances to become unreachable. Why this causes the problem: The game client cannot resolve or connect to the IP endpoints of the matchmaking and game session servers, resulting in connection timeouts. Category: Network Problem Specific technical explanation: Local Internet Service Provider (ISP) routing issues or backbone network congestion preventing packets from reaching AWS data centers. This creates a localized outage for specific user networks. Why this causes the problem: Network packets are dropped or routed incorrectly, causing the TCP/UDP connection to the game server to fail before completion. Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: Incorrect or corrupted local network configuration, such as a misconfigured Windows Firewall rule or host file entry that blocks communication with the game's domains (e.g., *.embark-studios.com, *.arcraiders.com). Why this causes the problem: The client's outbound connection requests are blocked or redirected at the operating system level before reaching the wider internet. Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: Third-party security software (antivirus, firewall) or VPN client actively intercepting and filtering the game's network traffic. These applications can incorrectly flag game traffic as malicious or route it through a broken proxy. Why this causes the problem: The security software terminates the secure connection handshake between the game client and the servers, generating a connection error. Category: Game Bug Specific technical explanation: A faulty game client patch or corrupted local installation that mismatches with the current server API version. The client attempts to communicate using an outdated or incorrect protocol. Why this causes the problem: The server rejects the client's connection request due to a version or protocol mismatch, returning a generic connection error code. Category: DNS Resolution Failure Specific technical explanation: The local DNS cache contains stale or incorrect records for the game servers. The Domain Name System fails to resolve the hostnames of the game services to their current, operational IP addresses. Why this causes the problem: The client attempts to connect to an invalid or outdated IP address, resulting in a connection timeout.

SECTION 4: SOLUTIONS

Solution 1: Verify Server Status and Wait

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 5-10 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: Internet access for status checking. Steps:

Open a web browser and navigate to the official ARC Raiders X (formerly Twitter) account at https://twitter.com/ARCRaidersGame.
Scan the most recent posts for announcements regarding server maintenance, outages, or technical issues.
Simultaneously, check the Embark Studios service status page, if publicly available, or the #server-status channel on the official ARC Raiders Discord.
If a confirmed outage is in progress, cease connection attempts. Repeated attempts exacerbate server load.
Wait for an official "all services operational" announcement before attempting to reconnect.

Technical Explanation: This approach confirms whether the error source is external (server-side). The ARAU0297 code is commonly associated with regional AWS outages, which only the development or infrastructure team can resolve. Waiting prevents wasted troubleshooting effort on a client-side issue. Verification: After the developer team announces resolution, launch the game. Successful progression past the "In queue" message and entry into the main menu confirms the fix.

Solution 2: Flush DNS and Renew IP Configuration

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 3 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Administrator command prompt access. Steps:

Press Windows Key + R, type cmd, then press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to launch Command Prompt as Administrator.
Execute the command to release the current IP configuration: ipconfig /release
Execute the command to clear the local DNS resolver cache: ipconfig /flushdns
Execute the command to renew the IP address from the DHCP server: ipconfig /renew
Close the Command Prompt and restart the computer to ensure all network stacks are reinitialized.
Launch ARC Raiders and attempt to connect.

Technical Explanation: Corrupted DNS cache entries point the client to outdated server IPs. Flushing the cache forces the system to fetch fresh records from the ISP's DNS servers. Releasing and renewing the IP address resolves local network conflicts that may impede outbound traffic. Verification: The game client connects to the matchmaking service without displaying the ARAU0297 error. The "In queue" message progresses or disappears.

Solution 3: Configure Windows Firewall for ARC Raiders

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 5 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Administrator privileges on the local machine. Steps:

Press Windows Key, type "Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security", and open the application.
In the left pane, click Outbound Rules.
In the right pane, click New Rule....
Select Program and click Next. Browse to and select the ARC Raiders executable. The default path is C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ARC Raiders\ArcRaidersClient.exe or its equivalent in the Embark Launcher directory.
Select Allow the connection and click Next.
Ensure all network profiles (Domain, Private, Public) are checked. Click Next.
Name the rule "ARC Raiders Outbound" and click Finish.
Repeat steps 3-7 for Inbound Rules to create a matching allowance.

Technical Explanation: A missing or overly restrictive firewall rule blocks the game's outgoing UDP/TCP packets required for server communication. Creating explicit allow rules for the game executable ensures the firewall does not interfere with the connection handshake. Verification: Monitor the firewall log or attempt to connect. A successful connection indicates the firewall is no longer blocking traffic. The rule will appear as active in the firewall management console.

Solution 4: Disable Conflicting Security Software and VPNs

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 5 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Knowledge of installed security applications. Steps:

Identify all active third-party security software (e.g., Norton, McAfee, Kaspersky) and VPN clients (e.g., NordVPN, ExpressVPN).
Locate the application's icon in the system tray (bottom-right of Windows desktop), right-click it, and look for a "Disable," "Pause Protection," or "Turn Off" option. Disable protection for 10 minutes.
If disabling via tray is insufficient, open the security application's main window and navigate to its firewall or real-time protection settings to temporarily turn them off.
For VPNs, disconnect the active VPN session completely. Close the VPN client application.
Launch ARC Raiders and test the connection.
Critical: Re-enable your security software immediately after testing.

Technical Explanation: Real-time scanning and VPN tunneling can interrupt the low-latency UDP connections game clients use. They may also inject their own SSL certificates or filters that break the secure connection to the game servers. Verification: A successful connection with security software disabled confirms the conflict. Permanent resolution may require adding the game and its directories to the security software's exclusion list.

Solution 5: Repair Game Files via Launcher

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 10-30 minutes (depends on internet speed) Success Rate: Low (for server errors, but rules out client corruption) Prerequisites: Game installed via Steam or Embark Launcher. Steps for Steam:

Open the Steam client and navigate to Library.
Right-click ARC Raiders and select Properties.
Go to the Installed Files tab.
Click the Verify integrity of game files button.
Allow the process to complete, then restart Steam.

Steps for Embark Launcher:

Open the Embark Launcher.
Click on ARC Raiders.
Click the gear icon (Settings) next to the Play button.
Select Verify Game Files or Repair Installation.
Allow the process to complete, then restart the launcher.

Technical Explanation: This process compares all local game files against the official master version on the distribution server. It replaces any missing, altered, or corrupted files, including those responsible for network communication and version validation. Verification: The launcher reports successful verification. The game client version displayed should match the latest version noted in official patch notes.

Solution 6: Use a Public DNS Service

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 7 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Access to network adapter settings. Steps:

Press Windows Key + R, type ncpa.cpl, and press Enter to open Network Connections.
Right-click your active network adapter (Ethernet or Wi-Fi) and select Properties.
Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.
Select Use the following DNS server addresses.
Enter 8.8.8.8 in the Preferred DNS server field and 8.8.4.4 in the Alternate DNS server field (Google DNS).
Alternatively, use Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1.
Click OK, then OK again.
Open Command Prompt as Administrator and execute ipconfig /flushdns.

Technical Explanation: ISP DNS servers can be slow to update or may experience outages. Public DNS services like Google DNS or Cloudflare DNS often have more reliable and up-to-date records, ensuring correct resolution of the game server hostnames. Verification: After flushing DNS, the game client resolves and connects to the server. You can test DNS functionality by pinging a game domain (if known) via Command Prompt to confirm resolution.

SECTION 5: PREVENTION

Maintain regular updates for your network adapter drivers and Windows operating system. Configure your primary security software with permanent exclusions for the ARC Raiders installation directory and executable. Schedule periodic use of the ipconfig /flushdns command, particularly after known game updates or system changes. Monitor the official ARC Raiders communication channels prior to extended play sessions to be aware of scheduled maintenance windows. For persistent issues, consider a static configuration using a reliable public DNS service instead of ISP-assigned dynamic DNS.

SECTION 6: WHEN TO CONTACT SUPPORT

Contact Embark Studios support only after confirming the game servers are operational via official status channels and exhausting all client-side solutions in this guide. Prepare to provide the exact error code (ARAU0297), a timestamp of the occurrence, and your geographic region. Include diagnostic information such as the network.log file typically located in %LOCALAPPDATA%\EmbarkLauncher\logs or the Steam appcache folder. Official support contact channels are found via the "Support" link on the ARC Raiders website or within the game's launcher interface.