Why Sneaky Players Are Your Real Problem
In Arc Raiders, it is usually not the players you see that end your run. It is the raider you never heard sneaking up behind you while you are looting a locker or admiring your shiny new gun.
The obvious threats are easy to read. If someone walks straight up to you in the open they probably want to team up or they will betray you later in a way you can at least see coming. The real danger is the player crawling through the grass or moving along a rooftop with quiet footsteps, lining up a shot while you are distracted.
Arc Raiders actually has solid audio design overall. Aside from some weak voice acting, the soundscape is rich and detailed. The problem is that by default it can be a little too cinematic and not quite gamey enough. Explosions and gunfire punch through, but the subtle stuff like footsteps and rustling can get buried, especially in busy areas.
If you have ever been jumpscared by a player who seemed to materialize next to you out of nowhere, you are not alone. Many of those surprise encounters happen because the game’s default audio mix makes it hard to pick out important cues like movement, especially when there is a lot of background noise.
The good news is that there is a very simple audio setting that can help you hear enemies earlier and avoid those surprise deaths.
The Night Mode Setting That Makes Footsteps Louder
Arc Raiders has an option hiding in the audio settings that can give you a big advantage: Night Mode. You will find it near the top of the audio menu, just below the audio output choice.
When you switch Night Mode on, the game changes how it handles loud and quiet sounds. Instead of huge volume spikes for things like explosions, the audio range is compressed. In practice this means:
- Loud sounds such as gunshots and explosions become a bit quieter.
- Quiet sounds such as footsteps and subtle movement become louder and easier to pick out.
- Sudden volume jumps are reduced, which is also easier on your ears if you have sensitive hearing or you play late at night.
This style of audio is great if you are struggling to hear players moving around you. A comparison shared by players like Marku5GG shows just how much more noticeable footsteps and small audio details become with Night Mode enabled.
For a game like Arc Raiders where your survival Topside often depends on catching the faint sound of someone creeping up behind you, that shift can be huge. If it helps you detect one extra ambush or avoid losing one of your favorite weapons, it is already doing important work.
There is also a comfort factor. If you find yourself wincing every time a big fight breaks out or an explosion goes off right next to you, Night Mode smooths those peaks out. It is easier to play longer sessions without feeling like your ears are being punished for every combat encounter.
The Tradeoffs And How To Tune The Game For You
Night Mode is not a magic fix, and it comes with some downsides you should know about before you lock it in as your default setting.
- Distance can feel muddier. With the sound range compressed, it becomes harder to judge exactly how far away gunfire or footsteps are. That distant rifle shot might sound closer than it really is, which can throw off your sense of positioning.
- Ambient noise gets boosted too. Night Mode does not only make enemy footsteps louder. It also lifts quiet environmental sounds like rustling leaves, wind, or distant machines. In some areas this can clutter the mix and make it harder to isolate what matters.
- Less cinematic immersion. If you enjoy that big dynamic feel where explosions rumble and quiet moments really drop down, Night Mode will feel flatter. The audio is more functional than immersive. It is definitely not on the level of something like an aggressive Battlefield style sound preset.
Because of those tradeoffs, Night Mode will not be for everyone. Some players will prefer the default audio for its more natural sound and better sense of space, even if that means occasionally getting surprised by a quiet player.
The best approach is to treat Night Mode as a tool and experiment. Try a few runs with it on and pay attention to how it changes your awareness in different situations.
- If you often lose fights to players you never heard coming, Night Mode might be a lifesaver.
- If you are already good at reading audio cues and you care more about immersion, the standard mix might still be your best bet.
Either way, do not ignore your audio settings. In Arc Raiders, your ears are just as important as your aim. You will be hunting for rare weapons, looting field depots, cracking open field crates, and grinding through quests that send you into risky zones. The last thing you want is to lose a top tier gun because someone slipped behind you while you were rummaging for humidifiers and light bulbs.
Before your next expedition, take a minute to calibrate your sound. Tweak volume levels, test Night Mode, and see which setup lets you track movement and gunfire the clearest. Once you can reliably hear the tells of other players, every trip Topside becomes a little less scary and a lot more controlled.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/if-you-ever-feel-like-youd-have-won-a-fight-in-arc-raiders-if-you-actually-heard-the-player-sneaking-up-on-you-then-you-need-to-turn-this-setting-on-right-away/
