Unknown Error ARC Raiders

Keyboard Input Freeze with CPU Lag - ARC Raiders Fix Guide

📅 Published: 2026-02-03 🔄 Updated: 2026-02-03 👥 Reports: 13 ⚡ Severity: 🟡 Medium

🎯 Quick Answer

Disconnect all non-essential input devices, perform a clean reinstall of your peripheral software (e.g., Logitech G Hub), and ensure the game is running through Steam rather than the Epic Games Store launcher.

SECTION 1: OVERVIEW

This error occurs when a sustained keyboard input in ARC Raiders causes the game execution to halt, accompanied by a measurable spike in CPU response latency as indicated by in-game performance metrics. The freeze persists until the initial key is released or a secondary input is registered. The problem is isolated to keyboard and mouse input; controller operation typically functions without triggering the fault. This is a software-level input processing conflict, not indicative of underlying hardware failure. The issue has been observed across multiple game patches and driver versions, indicating a persistent compatibility or configuration fault that can be reintroduced by system updates.

SECTION 2: SYMPTOMS

The application freezes completely while any keyboard key is held down. Character movement or action ceases, and the game world becomes unresponsive. The detailed performance meter shows a sudden, sustained peak in the "CPU Response" metric, correlating directly with the duration of the key press. Normal operation resumes instantly upon releasing the held key or pressing an additional key. The fault does not manifest when using a gamepad controller for identical actions. The issue can occur during any gameplay sequence requiring sustained input, such as moving forward or aiming down sights.

SECTION 3: COMMON CAUSES

Input Device Conflict: Multiple active Human Interface Devices (HIDs), such as a connected controller alongside a keyboard, can create contention in the game's input stack, causing a processing deadlock.
Peripheral Software Corruption: Suite software for gaming keyboards and mice (e.g., Logitech G Hub, Razer Synapse) can have corrupted profiles or drivers that inject faulty input states into the game engine.
Game Launcher Interference: The Epic Games Store launcher overlay and integration hooks can interfere with low-level input polling differently than the Steam client's implementation, leading to input latency and freezing.
Graphics Driver Incompatibility: While often up-to-date, specific GPU driver branches—particularly early releases for new hardware like the RTX 5080—can contain untested conflicts with the game's input rendering path.
Power Management for USB: Aggressive USB selective suspend settings or incorrect power plans can interrupt consistent data flow from a keyboard, perceived by the game as an error state.
Game File Verification Failure: Standard verification processes can miss corrupted or incorrectly configured input mapping files within the game's local appdata.
Background Process Interference: Overlays from communication (Discord) or hardware monitoring software can hook into the input chain, creating a bottleneck that manifests as CPU response lag.

SECTION 4: SOLUTIONS

Solution 1: Eliminate Input Device Conflicts

Difficulty: Easy Time: 2 minutes Success Rate: High Steps:

Completely exit ARC Raiders.
Physically disconnect all input devices not required for play. This includes gamepads, joysticks, racing wheels, and secondary keyboards or keypads.
Launch the game using only your primary keyboard and mouse.
Test for the input freeze. If resolved, reconnect other devices one by one to identify the conflicting peripheral.

Why it works: This removes contention in the Windows HID stack, ensuring the game receives a clean, uninterrupted input stream from a single primary source.

Solution 2: Clean Reinstall Peripheral Software

Difficulty: Medium Time: 10 minutes Success Rate: High Steps:

Open Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
Locate your peripheral software (e.g., "Logitech G Hub"), select it, and click Uninstall. Follow the prompts to complete removal.
Restart your computer.
Download the latest installer for your peripheral software directly from the manufacturer's official website.
Run the installer using "Run as administrator" and complete a fresh installation.
Restart your computer again before launching ARC Raiders.

Why it works: A clean reinstall replaces corrupted device drivers, runtime libraries, and configuration files that manage input reporting to the game.

Solution 3: Switch Game Launcher Platform

Difficulty: Medium Time: 30 minutes (for download) Success Rate: Medium Steps:

If you are using the Epic Games Store version, consider acquiring the game on Steam. Refunds are subject to the storefront's policy.
Uninstall the Epic Games Store version of ARC Raiders.
Install and launch the game exclusively through the Steam client.
Ensure the Steam Overlay is disabled for testing (Steam > Settings > In-Game > "Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game").

Why it works: The Steam and Epic clients use different low-level APIs and overlay frameworks for handling input, which can bypass the specific hook causing the processing freeze.

Solution 4: Perform a Clean GPU Driver Installation

Difficulty: Medium Time: 15 minutes Success Rate: Medium Steps:

Download the latest NVIDIA Game Ready Driver from NVIDIA's website and the Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) tool from Guru3D.
Boot Windows into Safe Mode.
Run DDU, select "NVIDIA" from the dropdown, and click "Clean and restart."
After the restart, install the previously downloaded driver package. During the "Custom Installation" step, check the "Perform a clean installation" box.
Complete the installation and restart normally.

Why it works: This removes all remnants of previous driver versions, including registry entries and configuration files that can cause conflicts with direct input handling.

Solution 5: Disable USB Selective Suspend

Difficulty: Easy Time: 5 minutes Success Rate: Low Steps:

Open the Windows Control Panel and navigate to Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
Next to your selected power plan, click Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings.
In the Power Options dialog, expand USB settings > USB selective suspend setting.
Set both On battery and Plugged in to Disabled.
Click Apply and OK. Restart your computer.

Why it works: This prevents Windows from powering down the USB port your keyboard is connected to, ensuring constant, uninterrupted data flow.

Solution 6: Manual Game Configuration Reset

Difficulty: Hard Time: 10 minutes Success Rate: Medium Steps:

Exit ARC Raiders and all related launchers.
Press Win + R, type %localappdata%, and press Enter.
Locate and open the folder named ARC_Raiders or from the game's publisher (likely Embark Studios).
Rename the Saved folder within to Saved.OLD.
Launch the game. It will generate a new, default Saved folder with fresh configuration files, including input bindings.

Why it works: This bypasses file verification and manually replaces potentially corrupted local configuration files that standard cache verification misses.

SECTION 5: PREVENTION

Maintain a clean input device environment by disconnecting unused peripherals before launching the game. Schedule regular clean reinstalls of peripheral software following major Windows or game updates. Always use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) when updating GPU drivers, rather than an express install. Create a system restore point before applying new game patches or driver updates to allow for rapid rollback if the issue recurs.

SECTION 6: SUPPORT ESCALATION

Contact official ARC Raiders support if all solutions fail and you can consistently reproduce the freeze with only a single keyboard and mouse connected. Provide the following diagnostic information: your system's DxDiag report, the exact version numbers of ARC Raiders and your GPU driver, a list of all connected USB devices, and a video capture clearly showing the in-game performance meter spiking during the input freeze.