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| A Reddit user switched Arc Raiders to a first-person perspective using the in-game console. |
In a surprising turn for the upcoming extraction shooter Arc Raiders, the community has done what players often do best: they’ve tinkered. What started as a simple experiment unlocked an entirely new way to experience the game—a first-person perspective that developers at Embark Studios never intended. The twist? The glimpse was fleeting, as the studio has already moved to close the loophole.
The Accidental Discovery That Changed Everything
Arc Raiders is officially described as a “third-person extraction adventure,” with Embark Studios designing every mechanic and vista around that over-the-shoulder viewpoint. There has been no indication that an official first-person mode was ever on the table. That didn't stop one curious player, known on Reddit as u/Short_Statisfaction_9, from digging deeper.
The breakthrough came from the game’s console, a tool typically accessed by a small subset of players for minor graphical tweaks. While most were using it to reduce fog or adjust brightness, u/Short_Statisfaction_9 decided to push further. The result was a fully functional, albeit unofficial, first-person camera.
The player documented the experiment in a now-viral three-minute gameplay video, showcasing a radically different Arc Raiders experience. The video was later amplified by the popular fan account Arc Raiders Alerts on X, sparking immediate community debate.
You can see the full, eye-opening demonstration in the original Reddit post shared by the discoverer.
A "Surreal" and "Terrifying" New Experience
According to the player’s firsthand account, the shift to first-person was transformative. They described the atmosphere as becoming “surreal” and “terrifying,” with the heightened sense of immersion adding a new layer of intensity to the game’s encounters. The video confirms this: the scale of the world feels more imposing, and the action is suddenly right in your face.
It wasn’t a perfect mod, of course. The video shows occasional visual glitches, like the player’s arms disappearing or sudden flashes of the character’s own body and face. Crucially, however, these quirks appeared to be purely cosmetic, with no reported impact on core gameplay functionality. Interestingly, the discoverer themselves noted that while the perspective was thrilling, Arc Raiders “does not necessarily require a first-person view,” acknowledging the game is clearly designed for third-person.
Community Reaction: A Call for Official Options?
The Reddit community’s reaction was overwhelmingly positive towards the newfound perspective. Many praised the increased immersion, with some players immediately calling for Embark to add an official toggle between third-person and first-person views. Discussions even branched into the potential for future VR support, given how well the perspective translated.
A common counterpoint, however, was gameplay balance. The consensus is that a first-person view would likely put players at a tactical disadvantage against those using the standard third-person camera, which allows for peeking around corners and greater situational awareness. To address this, some suggested the introduction of separate, perspective-locked lobbies to keep the playing field level. Despite the excitement, a significant portion of the player base expressed a desire for the game to remain as the developers originally envisioned.
Embark's Swift Response: The Loophole is Closed
The unauthorized first-person adventure was short-lived. Embark Studios, demonstrating a keen eye on the game’s ecosystem, promptly issued a hotfix that disabled access to the console commands used to enable the new perspective. This swift action confirms the studio's current stance: Arc Raiders is a third-person experience.
While the exploit may be patched, the conversation it started is very much alive. The incident highlights a passionate community eager to engage with the game on their own terms and showcases an unexpected depth to Arc Raiders' technical framework. Whether Embark Studios will ever reconsider and offer an official first-person option remains to be seen, but for a brief moment, players got a thrilling look at a very different version of the upcoming adventure.
FIRST PERSON in ARC Raiders 😮
— ARC Raiders Alerts (@ArcRaiderAlerts) January 10, 2026
A Reddit user managed to force FPP camera using dev console commands. Even without dedicated animations, seeing the world from this perspective looks incredibly immersive. pic.twitter.com/mJB6sHA57I