ARC Raiders first drew attention in 2025 as a fast-paced take on the extraction shooter formula. Developed by Embark Studios, the team behind The Finals, the game lets players drop into hostile environments solo or in small squads, scavenge gear, and fight to make it out alive.
Its mix of tense combat and satisfying progression quickly built a dedicated following, earning a ‘Very Positive’ rating on Steam, a strong user score on Metacritic, and Best Multiplayer Award at The Game Awards 2025.
Until now, ARC Raiders has only been playable in third person. That perspective works well for situational awareness and squad play, but some fans have long wondered what the game would feel like up close in first-person. One player decided to find out.
A Reddit user known as Short_Satisfaction_9 recently shared footage of ARC Raiders running entirely in first-person. In their post, they explained that while third person suits the game, experiencing it from a first-person view made the ARC enemies feel more intimidating and the world far more intense. “I love this game with all my heart,” they wrote, “but getting to experience it in first person was surreal.”
I tried arc raiders in first person
by u/Short_Satisfaction_9 in ArcRaiders
The familiar environments suddenly felt closer. Shadows loomed larger. Threats were harder to track. The shift in perspective alone made the game feel noticeably different.
The setup itself is surprisingly simple. The first-person view was achieved using existing console commands rather than any external mod. By pushing camera and field-of-view settings beyond their usual limits, the player was able to force a first-person perspective using the following command:
Camera FirstPerson | fov 45 | r.SetNearClipPlane 28
The footage (above) is rough and clearly not production-ready, but it has been enough to spark debate across the ARC Raiders community.
Some players are excited by the idea of a first-person option, while others worry it could split matchmaking if implemented officially. Many suggest it would need separate lobbies to avoid balance issues. As one fan put it, “Third person has pretty much been my only gripe with this game. If there was a first-person option, that would be amazing.”
For now, Embark Studios hasn't indicated whether a first-person mode is under consideration. Still, the response to this experiment makes one thing clear. It’s an idea the community isn't ready to drop.
The Takeaway
ARC Raiders already stands out in a crowded genre, but this experiment shows there may be more room to evolve how the game is experienced. Even without official support, players are finding new ways to engage with its systems. If Embark ever explores a first-person option, it wouldn't just be a novelty. It could reshape how ARC Raiders is played entirely.
Emmanuel Umahi
