The Weird Arc Raiders Bug That Freezes Players in Time
Arc Raiders is already known for its strange quirks, from front flipping to avoid fall damage to riding the game’s terrifying machines. But there is another odd behavior that can completely change how you read a fight in this co op shooter. Sometimes you will see a player frozen mid animation, hanging in the air or stuck on a zipline as if time has stopped.
At first glance, it looks like a visual bug on a dead player. In reality, it is something much more interesting. This frozen state is caused when a player force closes the game or disconnects suddenly, using classic tricks like ALT+F4 or cutting their connection. Instead of instantly disappearing, their character remains in the world, locked in place like a statue.
The catch is that this player is not actually gone for good. Because they were forced out of the match rather than quitting properly, they can rejoin and keep playing from that exact body, as long as they were not killed while they were away. That means any frozen player you walk past might suddenly come back to life and start shooting.
How the Freeze Bug Works in Real Matches
Content creator Jinko showcased this strange behavior in a mythbusting video focused on Arc Raiders. By intentionally closing the game in different situations and then rejoining, they tested what happens to frozen characters in some pretty wild scenarios.
One of the funniest tests involved a zipline. A player riding the line force closed their game mid travel, which caused their character to stop halfway along the cable, hanging there motionless. When they rejoined the match, the game simply resumed their movement and sent them zooming along the rest of the path as if nothing had happened.
The most dramatic use of this bug appeared at the Dam Battlegrounds Control Tower. A player jumped from the top of the tower and, mid fall, force closed their game. Instead of crashing into the ground, their body completely froze above the wasteland, hovering in mid air like a comic book supervillain. From the ground it looks like they are floating over the map, radiating a very intimidating presence.
Once the player reconnected, gravity instantly kicked back in and the game continued as normal, sending them dropping from the sky. It is a perfect setup for pranks or for confusing anyone watching from below.
This behavior turns what seems like a small technical quirk into something that can genuinely affect how matches play out. Frozen players might be sitting targets, but they are also potential ambushers just waiting to snap back into action.
How To React When You See a Frozen Player
If you are exploring Arc Raiders and suddenly spot someone stuck in the air, glued to a zipline, or standing perfectly still in an awkward pose, you should not assume they are harmless. Based on how this mechanic works, they are not dead and there is a real chance they could reconnect and instantly be back in control of their character.
That opens up a few tactical options for both you and them.
- They can use it for pranks. Friends could coordinate disconnects to float in odd spots, lure enemies into overconfidence, or simply mess around with funny screenshots and clips.
- They can ambush you on return. If a player manages to disconnect in a sneaky position, they might reconnect later and catch you completely off guard.
- You can eliminate the risk early. If you want to play it safe and remove that possibility, you can just finish them off while they are frozen.
The simplest advice is to treat frozen players as a live threat rather than as scenery. If you leave them alone, you are accepting the risk that they may reappear and start firing without warning.
So when you run into someone hovering mid air or stuck like a statue, you have two real options.
- Shoot them. It feels a bit cruel, but it guarantees they will not come back and surprise you later.
- Back away. If you are low on health or ammo, or just not in a good position for a fight, it might be smarter to retreat so you are not standing right next to them when they reconnect.
This odd bug will not make or break the game’s balance, but it adds another layer of weirdness to Arc Raiders’ already chaotic firefights. Between unusual skill interactions, tricks to avoid fall damage, riding machines, and now players literally frozen in time, this game offers plenty of strange moments that are perfect for sharing clips with friends.
If you are diving deeper into Arc Raiders, there are more ways to gain an edge beyond simply watching out for frozen enemies. Guides that focus on the best skills, weapons, Trials, Expeditions, and quest strategies can help you survive longer and make smarter choices during each match. But out in the field, remember this simple rule. If someone looks like a statue, assume they can still move. Either finish the job or get out of there before time unfreezes and the bullets start flying.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/ive-just-discovered-that-you-can-master-time-and-space-in-arc-raiders-and-now-i-want-to-intimidate-everyone-with-my-physics-breaking-aura/
