Do the big streamers in Arc Raiders really have aim that good and can they actually shoot that fast without macros, or are they cheating?
Anyone who watches the big streamers play Arc Raiders knows that the game has a cheating problem. However, some of those big streamers are now under suspicion themselves, but is there actually any truth to it?
Why Top Streamers In ARC Raiders Are Coming Under Cheating Suspicion
The big FPS streamers are still grinding Arc Raiders relentlessly. Nickmercs, Shroud, TimTheTatman, HutchMF, Cloakzy, and TheBurntPeanut are all still playing the game on a regular basis. Recently, however, serious accusations have been raised against some of them, with suspicions that they might be cheating.
The loudest accusations were directed at Nickmercs after a clip began circulating that showed his crosshair snapping back and forth onto a robot with almost machine-like precision. Nickmercs vehemently denied the allegations but still addressed them with a sense of humor:
"Not cheating sorry, didn't wait 20 years playing competitively to show you I was cheating against an ARC robot, so anybody that wants me dead or cancelled sorry guys, the ******* show goes on"
However, he is not the only streamer who has had to deal with such accusations. Shroud has also found himself facing allegations. While no one is accusing him of using an aimbot because he practically is one himself, many suspect that the former Counter Strike professional is using macros to fire weapons such as the Kettle faster and gain an unfair advantage. Macros store a predefined sequence of clicks, allowing certain weapons to be fired significantly faster.
Shroud responded to the accusations with a video and appeared visibly annoyed by the endless allegations. According to him, no matter how often you prove that you are not cheating, someone will always raise suspicions again. He even went as far as showing his mouse settings live on stream.
TheBurntPeanut was also accused of using macros. The streamer repeatedly emphasized that he sees no point in macros, as they would take away the feel for the shots and negatively affect aim. In his own direct way, he explained that with a bit of practice, anyone should be able to shoot as fast as he does:
"Anyone that's under the age of like 95 should be able to shoot the Kettle in the exact same speed I do."
Whether the streamers actually cheated can never be ruled out one hundred percent, but it seems rather unlikely. Why would Nickmercs, after a professional career in Call of Duty, suddenly start using an aimbot in Arc Raiders, especially considering that the game is not truly competitive? Shroud is accused of cheating in almost every FPS he plays, yet many should slowly begin to acknowledge that he is simply exceptionally good at shooters. The same applies to TheBurntPeanut, where much suggests that he is simply able to shoot very fast rather than relying on macros, especially when considering how irritated he has recently been when reacting to real cheaters.
The Growing Cheating Problem In Arc Raiders
The community has been struggling with a massive cheating problem for weeks now. Cheaters often receive laughably light punishments or are not banned at all. Players exploit glitches or use macros and frequently face no consequences. Embark did respond with a post in the official Arc Raiders Discord, stating that they are aware of the issues and plan to address them in upcoming updates. Since then, however, not much seems to have changed.
Of course, it is not only big streamers who are affected by the cheating problem. Regular players suffer from cheating as well. This is likely one of the reasons why the community reacts so sensitively to cheating accusations.
In his latest stream, TheBurntPeanut also complained vehemently about the current situation and did not hold back with his words:
"Embark fix this or i am ******* out of here. [...] If those guys are not IP banned from the game, i genuinely don't think im gonna play it [...] There is plenty of other games out there, that don't let cheaters go for two months rampant.“
These are strong statements from a streamer who, compared to others, had rarely complained in the past. By now, however, his patience also seems to have run out. As a result, Embark is under more pressure than ever. It now remains to be seen what measures the studio will take and whether they will have the desired effect, or if TheBurntPeanut may soon be seen playing a different game.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments!
