Game Error ARC Raiders

EAC Launch Error - ARC Raiders Fix Guide

📅 Published: 2026-02-05 🔄 Updated: 2026-02-05 👥 Reports: 1 ⚡ Severity: 🟢 Low

🎯 Quick Answer

Reinstall the Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) service manually from the game's installation directory to resolve the most common cause of this launch failure.

SECTION 1: OVERVIEW

The EAC (Easy Anti-Cheat) launch error in ARC Raiders is a failure in the anti-cheat service initialization process that prevents the game executable from starting. This error affects the Windows PC version of the game. The issue occurs across all game versions that utilize the Easy Anti-Cheat middleware. This is a common error classification with a high severity impact, as it results in a complete failure to launch the application, rendering the game unplayable. The error typically manifests with a modal dialog box containing messages such as "Easy Anti-Cheat is not installed" or "Easy Anti-Cheat failed to initialize." The system may also generate Windows Event Log entries related to service start failures for EasyAntiCheat_EOS.

SECTION 2: SYMPTOMS

The primary symptom is application termination during the initial launch sequence, before the main game window renders. The process fails immediately after the launcher executes the game binary. A system modal dialog appears with the title "Easy Anti-Cheat" or "ARC Raiders - Launcher Error." The dialog body contains text referencing Easy Anti-Cheat installation or initialization failure. The game process terminates after the user dismisses the error dialog. No game logs are generated in the %LOCALAPPDATA%\ARC Raiders directory because the crash occurs prior to the game's own logging initialization.

SECTION 3: COMMON CAUSES

Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: Third-party security software (antivirus, anti-malware, firewall) quarantines or blocks the EasyAntiCheat_EOS.sys driver or the EasyAntiCheat_EOS.exe service executable. Real-time protection modules incorrectly flag these files as potential threats. Why this causes the problem: The anti-cheat kernel driver fails to load, or the service cannot start, causing the integrity check to fail during game launch. Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: The Easy Anti-Cheat service installation is corrupted or points to an invalid registry path. This occurs after incomplete game updates, failed installations, or manual game directory relocation. Why this causes the problem: The game launcher queries the Windows Service Control Manager for the EAC service. A corrupted service registration returns an error, triggering the launch failure. Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: Outdated, corrupted, or incompatible graphics card drivers, particularly NVIDIA GeForce Game Ready Driver versions prior to 551.86 or AMD Adrenalin Edition drivers prior to 24.2.1. Why this causes the problem: Easy Anti-Cheat performs low-level hardware checks that interface with GPU drivers. Incompatible drivers return unexpected values, causing EAC to abort the launch. Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: Windows user account lacks the necessary permissions to create or start a Windows service. This is common with standard user accounts when the game was installed with administrator privileges. Why this causes the problem: The EasyAntiCheat_EOS.exe process requires elevated privileges to install its kernel module. Insufficient permissions prevent service installation. Category: Game Bug Specific technical explanation: The game's Easy Anti-Cheat integration module contains a faulty path resolution routine for the EAC service executable. This bug manifests when the game is installed on a drive other than C:. Why this causes the problem: The launcher attempts to invoke the EAC service from an incorrect absolute path, resulting in a "file not found" error at the system level. Category: Network Problem Specific technical explanation: Corporate or restrictive network firewall policies block outbound connections to the Easy Anti-Cheat certificate validation servers at *.easyanticheat.net. Why this causes the problem: The anti-cheat client cannot perform its initial certificate handshake and license validation, forcing a mandatory failure on launch.

SECTION 4: SOLUTIONS

Solution 1: Manual Easy Anti-Cheat Service Repair

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 5 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: None Steps:

Navigate to the ARC Raiders game directory. The default path is C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\ARC Raiders.
Open the EasyAntiCheat folder within the game directory.
Locate and execute the EasyAntiCheat_Setup.exe application.
In the setup dialog, ensure the game "ARC Raiders" is selected from the dropdown menu.
Click the Repair Service button. Wait for the process to complete.
Restart the computer to ensure the repaired service loads correctly.
Launch ARC Raiders through Steam.

Technical Explanation: This process reinstalls the EasyAntiCheat_EOS Windows service and its associated kernel driver, replacing corrupted files and repairing broken registry entries in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\EasyAntiCheat_EOS. Verification: Open Windows Task Manager, navigate to the Services tab, and confirm the EasyAntiCheat_EOS service status is "Running." The game launches without the EAC error dialog.

Solution 2: Clean Reinstallation of Easy Anti-Cheat

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 10 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: Administrator access required Steps:

Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter to open the Services management console.
Locate the EasyAntiCheat_EOS service. Right-click it and select Stop if it is running.
Right-click the service again, select Properties, and set the "Startup type" to Disabled. Click Apply and OK.
Navigate to the game's EasyAntiCheat folder: C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\ARC Raiders\EasyAntiCheat.
Delete all files and folders within this EasyAntiCheat directory.
In Steam, right-click ARC Raiders in your library, select Properties, go to the Installed Files tab, and click Verify integrity of game files.
After verification completes, restart the computer.
Launch ARC Raiders. The first launch will reinstall EAC; allow this process.

Technical Explanation: This method forces a complete refresh of all EAC components. Disabling and deleting the service ensures Steam's file verification downloads a pristine version, and the subsequent launch triggers a first-time installation routine. Verification: The EAC installation dialog appears on the first game launch post-repair. Subsequent launches proceed directly to the game.

Solution 3: Grant Full Permissions to Game Directory

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 7 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Administrator access required Steps:

Navigate to the root ARC Raiders folder: C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\.
Right-click the ARC Raiders folder and select Properties.
Navigate to the Security tab and click the Advanced button.
Click Disable inheritance, then select Convert inherited permissions into explicit permissions on this object.
Select each user/group entry (especially Users, your specific username, and SYSTEM) and click Edit.
Check the box for Full control under "Basic permissions." Click OK.
In the Advanced Security Settings window, check the box for Replace all child object permission entries with inheritable permission entries from this object.
Click Apply and confirm any dialogs. Close all windows.
Launch the game.

Technical Explanation: EAC requires write permissions in its own directory to update certificates and logs. Restrictive folder permissions, often set by overly aggressive security software, prevent the EasyAntiCheat_EOS.exe process from modifying necessary files. Verification: Check the EasyAntiCheat folder for new .log or .bin files created after a launch attempt, indicating successful write access.

Solution 4: Configure Antivirus and Firewall Exclusions

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

Add the following directories to your antivirus and firewall exclusion/allow list:

- C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\ARC Raiders\ - C:\Program Files (x86)\EasyAntiCheat\

For Windows Security, open Virus & threat protection, click Manage settings under "Virus & threat protection settings," then Add or remove exclusions. Add the above folder paths.
For the firewall, open Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security. Create a new Outbound Rule to allow EasyAntiCheat_EOS.exe (located in the game's EasyAntiCheat folder).
Additionally, create a rule to allow ARC Raiders.exe.
If using a third-party antivirus, consult its documentation for adding process and folder exclusions.
Restart the computer to ensure all changes take effect.

Technical Explanation: This prevents security software from intercepting or blocking the anti-cheat driver's loading sequence (EasyAntiCheat_EOS.sys) or its network calls for certificate validation. Verification: Monitor your security software's quarantine or block logs after launching the game. No entries should appear for any ARC Raiders or EasyAntiCheat files.

Solution 5: Update or Reinstall Graphics Drivers

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 15 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Internet connection for download Steps:

Identify your GPU model by pressing Win + R, typing dxdiag, and navigating to the Display tab.
For NVIDIA GPUs, download the latest Game Ready Driver from NVIDIA's website. During installation, select Custom installation and check Perform a clean installation.
For AMD GPUs, download the latest Adrenalin Edition driver from AMD's website and use the Factory Reset option during installation.
After installation, restart the computer.
Launch ARC Raiders.

Technical Explanation: EAC performs low-level memory and hardware checks that rely on stable GPU driver interfaces. Driver corruption or known bugs in specific driver versions can cause these checks to fail, triggering an initialization error. Verification: The DirectX Diagnostic Tool (dxdiag) displays the new driver version on the Display tab. The game launches without error.

Solution 6: Run Game and Launcher as Administrator

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 2 minutes Success Rate: Low Prerequisites: Administrator account Steps:

Navigate to the ARC Raiders executable: C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\ARC Raiders\ARC Raiders.exe.
Right-click the file and select Properties.
Navigate to the Compatibility tab.
Check the box for Run this program as an administrator.
Click Apply, then OK.
In Steam, right-click ARC Raiders, select Properties, go to the Compatibility section, and check Run this program as an administrator for the Steam client overlay.
Launch the game from Steam.

Technical Explanation: This grants the process the necessary privileges to install or start the EAC Windows service, bypassing User Account Control (UAC) restrictions that may be preventing service modification. Verification: A UAC prompt appears when launching the game. The game proceeds after granting permission.

Solution 7: Perform a Clean Boot to Identify Conflicts

Difficulty: Advanced Time Required: 20 minutes Success Rate: Low (Diagnostic) Prerequisites: Administrator access Steps:

Press Win + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
In the System Configuration window, go to the Services tab.
Check Hide all Microsoft services, then click Disable all.
Navigate to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager. Disable all startup items.
Close Task Manager, click OK in System Configuration, and restart the computer.
After booting into the clean environment, attempt to launch ARC Raiders.
If the launch succeeds, re-enable services and startup items in groups via msconfig to identify the conflicting software.

Technical Explanation: This diagnostic test eliminates all third-party software conflicts. If the game launches successfully in a clean boot state, a background process is interfering with EAC. Verification: Successful game launch in the clean boot state confirms a software conflict. The specific conflict is identified through iterative re-enabling of services.

SECTION 5: PREVENTION

Maintain the integrity of the Easy Anti-Cheat installation by allowing Steam update processes to complete without interruption. Configure permanent exclusions for the ARC Raiders and EasyAntiCheat directories in security software before launching the game. Adhere to a regular schedule for updating graphics drivers, verifying the manufacturer's release notes for known anti-cheat compatibility fixes. Monitor the Windows Event Viewer for warnings or errors from the EasyAntiCheat_EOS source between gaming sessions to detect early signs of service corruption.

SECTION 6: WHEN TO CONTACT SUPPORT

Contact Embark Studios/ARC Raiders official support if all solutions fail and the error persists across a complete operating system reinstallation. Provide the diagnostic information from the %LOCALAPPDATA%\ARC Raiders\Saved\Logs directory and the Windows System Event Logs filtered for the EasyAntiCheat_EOS source. Include a full DxDiag report and your Steam account ID