Crash/Freeze ARC Raiders

ARC Raiders Post-Update Crashes and Corrupted Files - Complete Fix Guide

📅 Published: 2026-02-05 🔄 Updated: 2026-02-05 👥 Reports: 5 ⚡ Severity: 🟢 Low

🎯 Quick Answer

Perform a clean reinstall of ARC Raiders, including manual deletion of all game folders and a fresh installation of Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC).

SECTION 1: OVERVIEW

This error condition encompasses multiple critical failure points preventing ARC Raiders from launching or running after a game update. The primary symptoms are application crashes during the launch sequence, often accompanied by error messages from Unity, Unreal Engine 5 (UE5), DirectX, or the Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) system. A secondary, compounding symptom is the "corrupted files please reinstall" error message persisting even after a standard reinstall. This issue affects the Windows PC version of ARC Raiders. It is classified as a common, game-breaking error with high severity, as it completely blocks access to the application. Exact error messages reported include generic Unity crash dialogs, UE5 fatal errors, DirectX 11 compatibility warnings, and the specific EAC error codes that precede a forced closure.

SECTION 2: SYMPTOMS

The application terminates during the initial launch sequence, typically before reaching the main menu. The termination is preceded by one of several error windows: a Unity crash handler dialog, an Unreal Engine 5 crash report window, or an Easy Anti-Cheat violation message. In some cases, the game executable fails silently. Following a standard uninstall and reinstall via the game client, the application launches the Easy Anti-Cheat loader, which then displays the message "corrupted files please reinstall," creating a failure loop. The game process does not establish a stable presence in system memory or reach gameplay initialization.

SECTION 3: COMMON CAUSES

Category: Game Bug / Update Artifact Specific technical explanation: The game update process leaves behind incompatible or corrupted configuration files in the %LOCALAPPDATA% or %APPDATA% directories. These legacy files conflict with the new game build, causing initialization failures. Why this causes the problem: The game engine attempts to read settings or cached data from previous versions, leading to memory access violations or logic errors that trigger a crash. Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: The Easy Anti-Cheat service fails to update correctly or becomes corrupted. The service (EasyAntiCheat_EOS.exe) cannot validate the game's integrity, resulting in a violation error and forced closure. Why this causes the problem: EAC is a mandatory launch component. If its module is mismatched with the game version or its own data is corrupt, it will block execution. Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: Outdated or corrupt Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables or DirectX runtime components. ARC Raiders, built on Unreal Engine 5, has specific dependencies on these runtime libraries. Why this causes the problem: The game engine calls functions from these libraries during startup. Missing or faulty DLL files cause immediate runtime exceptions. Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: Overlay applications from Discord, NVIDIA GeForce Experience, MSI Afterburner/RivaTuner, or Xbox Game Bar inject code into the game process. This injection can conflict with EAC or the game's own memory management. Why this causes the problem: Anti-cheat software may flag non-malicious overlays as unauthorized modifications, or the overlay itself may cause a graphics API hook failure. Category: Hardware Issue Specific technical explanation: GPU driver corruption, particularly in versions known to have memory management issues with UE5 titles. Incomplete driver updates or system instability can exacerbate this. Why this causes the problem: The graphics driver is responsible for translating UE5 rendering calls. Corrupted drivers cause DirectX or Vulkan API calls to fail, crashing the engine. Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: Windows system file corruption or incorrect permissions on the game installation directory, preventing the application from writing necessary temporary or cache files. Why this causes the problem: The game requires read/write access to its own folders. Permission errors or a corrupted Windows component like the .NET Framework can halt execution.

SECTION 4: SOLUTIONS

Solution 1: Clean Game Reinstall with Full Directory Purge

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 20-30 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: Admin access required for some deletions, stable internet connection for re-download. Steps:

Open the Steam client, navigate to your Library, right-click on ARC Raiders, and select Manage > Uninstall.
Navigate to the Steam game directory (default: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common) and delete the entire ARC Raiders folder if it remains.
Press Win + R, type %LOCALAPPDATA%, and press Enter. Locate and delete any folder named ARC Raiders or Embark Studios.
Press Win + R again, type %APPDATA%, and press Enter. Locate and delete any ARC Raiders or Embark Studios folder.
Restart your computer.
Open Steam and reinstall ARC Raiders to a default directory. Do not launch the game yet.
After installation, right-click ARC Raiders in Steam, select Properties, go to the Installed Files tab, and click Verify integrity of game files.

Technical Explanation: This process removes all game binaries, configuration files, and cached data from the previous broken installation, including corrupted files that a standard uninstall misses. A fresh install ensures all game files match the latest version. Verification: The game launches past the EAC screen and reaches the main menu without displaying a corruption error.

Solution 2: Repair Easy Anti-Cheat Installation

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 5 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: Game files must be present. Steps:

Navigate to the ARC Raiders Easy Anti-Cheat directory: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ARC Raiders\EasyAntiCheat.
Locate and execute the EasyAntiCheat_Setup.exe file as Administrator (right-click > Run as administrator).
In the setup window, ensure ARC Raiders is selected in the dropdown menu.
Click the Repair Service button and wait for the process to complete.
Close the setup window and restart your computer.

Technical Explanation: This runs the EAC installer's repair function, which reinstalls the service, verifies its files against the server, and corrects any registry entries or service configurations that are corrupt. Verification: The EAC loading screen completes without error messages, and the game proceeds to the next initialization phase.

Solution 3: Update/Reinstall Graphics Drivers and Visual C++ Runtimes

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 15 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Admin access, internet connection. Steps:

Press Win + X and select Device Manager. Expand Display adapters, right-click your GPU, and select Uninstall device. Check the box that says "Attempt to remove the driver for this device" and click Uninstall. Restart your PC. Windows will install a basic display driver.
Visit your GPU manufacturer's website (NVIDIA or AMD). Download the latest WHQL-certified Game Ready or Adrenalin driver for your specific GPU model and Windows version.
Install the driver using the "Custom (Advanced)" option and select Perform a clean installation.
Download the latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package from the official Microsoft website. The combined installer by VisualCppRedist is recommended for ease.
Run the installer as Administrator to repair or install all necessary VC++ runtime versions (2015-2022).

Technical Explanation: A clean GPU driver install eliminates corrupted driver files that cause DirectX/UE5 crashes. Reinstalling VC++ runtimes ensures all required C++ library dependencies for the game and EAC are present and functional. Verification: System stability improves, and other UE5 titles run without issue. ARC Raiders may progress further in the launch sequence.

Solution 4: Disable Conflicting Software and Overlays

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 10 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: None. Steps:

Fully close Discord, MSI Afterburner, RivaTuner Statistics Server, and any RGB peripheral software (Corsair iCUE, Razer Synapse game integration).
Open the Xbox Game Bar by pressing Win + G. Click the Settings cog, and disable Xbox Game Bar.
For NVIDIA GeForce Experience: Open the application, click the Settings (gear) icon, and toggle off In-Game Overlay.
For Steam: Open Steam Settings, navigate to In-Game, and uncheck Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game.
Launch ARC Raiders directly from its desktop shortcut or Steam without reopening the disabled applications.

Technical Explanation: This prevents third-party code injection into the game process, removing a common source of conflict with Easy Anti-Cheat and eliminating potential hooks that can destabilize the graphics pipeline. Verification: The game launches successfully. If it does, re-enable overlays one by one to identify the specific conflict.

Solution 5: Perform a System File Check and Grant Folder Permissions

Difficulty: Advanced Time Required: 10 minutes Success Rate: Low-Medium Prerequisites: Admin access required. Steps:

Run Command Prompt as Administrator. Execute the command: sfc /scannow. Allow the scan to complete and repair any found corruptions.
Execute a second command: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.
Navigate to the ARC Raiders root folder (e.g., C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ARC Raiders).
Right-click the folder, select Properties, then the Security tab. Click Edit, then Add. Type Everyone in the object name field, click Check Names, then OK.
Select Everyone from the list, and in the permissions pane below, check Full control. Click Apply and OK. Confirm any prompts.

Technical Explanation: sfc and DISM repair corrupted Windows system files that may be interfering with game services. Granting full control permissions ensures the game and EAC have unrestricted access to write logs and cache files in their directory. Verification: System file checker reports no integrity violations. The game can create and modify files in its directory without permission errors.

SECTION 5: PREVENTION

Maintain a regular schedule for updating GPU drivers, focusing on WHQL-certified versions. Before applying any major game update, manually close all non-essential background applications, particularly those with overlays. Periodically use Steam's "Verify Integrity of Game Files" function to catch early file corruption. Avoid modifying or deleting files within the game installation directory. Monitor the official ARC Raiders or Embark Studios channels for announcements regarding known issues with specific driver versions or Windows updates, and delay updating if advised.

SECTION 6: WHEN TO CONTACT SUPPORT

Contact Embark Studios Support if all solutions fail and the error persists on a system meeting the game's minimum requirements. Provide the full diagnostic report from the crash handler, including the error code and stack trace. Include the launcher.log and game.log files located in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Embark Studios\ARC Raiders. Submit your system specifications (CPU, GPU, RAM, Windows version) and a detailed chronology of the error and steps taken. Official support channels are accessible via the ARC Raiders website or the Embark Studios support portal.