ARC Raiders players have reported being killed by other Raiders in PvE lobbies, despite player-to-player damage supposedly being disabled. The incident occurred after a Queen boss fight and reportedly cost the affected player a fully equipped loadout and two reactors.

The report has raised concerns about a possible matchmaking bug or cheating during the game's limited-time PvE test. However, the exact cause remains unconfirmed.

What Happened in the ARC Raiders PvE Lobby?

The player said they had repeatedly checked that PvE matchmaking was enabled. Earlier in the same match, their teammate had accidentally shot at another squad while fighting the Queen, but the shots reportedly caused no damage. Green shield effects appeared instead, suggesting that the PvE restrictions were working as intended.

However, after the boss fight, two Raiders allegedly opened fire and downed both teammates. The player lost a fully equipped loadout and two reactors.

The incident was particularly confusing because the earlier shots had caused no damage, while the later attack apparently resulted in player knockdowns.

The original poster reported the incident in-game and through Steam. Although the player suspected cheating or a possible bug, the available evidence does not conclusively establish what happened.

Why PvP Damage Should Be Disabled in ARC Raiders PvE Mode

Embark Studios introduced a limited-time PvE matchmaking test running from October 13 to October 20, 2026. The feature allows players to choose between the traditional PvPvE experience and a cooperative PvE session focused on fighting ARC machines.

According to the official ARC Raiders announcement, PvE sessions are designed to have zero player-to-player damage. Certain throwable ARC Raiders items, including stun and fire items, also cannot damage other players.

The test includes several other differences from standard matchmaking:

• Solos, Duos, and Trios can enter the same PvE session.

• Overall loot value is reduced.

• Certain high-tension map conditions are excluded from PvE matchmaking.

• PvPvE matchmaking ratings are unaffected by playing PvE sessions.

These rules are intended to let players explore, gather resources, and fight ARC enemies without being attacked by other Raiders.

If the reported incident occurred in a correctly configured PvE session, the apparent player damage would contradict the mode's intended rules.

Was It an ARC Raiders PvE Bug or Cheating?

There are two main possibilities discussed by the community, but neither has been confirmed as the cause of this particular incident.

A Possible Matchmaking or Interface Bug

One explanation is that the game may have experienced a matchmaking or interface issue. If the PvE selection did not match the session a player actually entered, that could potentially explain why PvP damage occurred.

Some community members have also discussed possible problems involving the PvE toggle. However, these suggestions remain unverified, and there is no confirmed evidence that a specific toggle-related bug caused the reported incident.

Possible Cheating

The original poster also suspected that the attackers might have been cheating and reported them for investigation.

Nevertheless, the incident alone does not prove that cheats were involved. A technical issue could also explain the unexpected behavior, and further evidence is needed to distinguish between the possibilities.

The most important unanswered question is how the attackers were apparently able to down other players in a mode where player-to-player damage should be disabled.

Why the Incident Matters to ARC Raiders Players

Losing equipment is part of the risk-and-reward system in extraction shooters. In standard ARC Raiders matches, players know that hostile Raiders may attack them during exploration, looting, or boss encounters.

PvE matchmaking creates a different expectation. Players choose this mode to focus on fighting ARC enemies and cooperating with others, without worrying about hostile player encounters.

Losing a valuable loadout after successfully fighting the Queen is especially frustrating. Players invest time and resources in preparing for difficult encounters, and an unexpected attack that appears to violate the selected mode's rules can undermine their confidence in matchmaking.

The report also raises questions about whether the PvE experience can consistently deliver the cooperative gameplay it promises.

How ARC Raiders Players Can Stay Cautious

While the cause remains uncertain, players can take several precautions during the PvE test.

First, verify that PvE matchmaking is selected before entering a session, particularly after switching between PvE and PvPvE.

Second, players concerned about the report may prefer to avoid risking their most valuable equipment until they are comfortable with the current matchmaking experience. This is a precaution, not a confirmed solution.

Finally, record suspicious incidents whenever possible. Gameplay footage showing the attack, the selected mode, and the resulting damage can help developers investigate whether the problem involves a bug or cheating.

Players should also follow official ARC Raiders announcements for further information about the PvE test.

Monsters & Memories Early Access is now available! This retro MMORPG rewards planning, preparation, and teamwork, rather than quick reflexes or solo play. If you're feeling lost early in the game, this article is a must-read.

This guide covers the essential systems you need to understand, helping you avoid common mistakes, prepare for dangerous encounters, and build a solid foundation for your adventures in MnM.

Choosing Your Race and Class

Character creation in Monsters & Memories begins with choosing your race. Your race determines which classes are available to you, as not every race can pursue every class. This means your choice has a direct impact on your character's starting attributes, racial abilities, and overall playstyle.

The game is planned to feature 13 playable races, including Humans, Wood Elves, Dwarves, Gnomes, Ogres, Trolls, and several races adapted to life underground, such as Deep Dwarves and Deep Elves. Each race offers distinct advantages, making it important to consider how its characteristics complement your preferred class.

After selecting your race and class, you can customize your character's attributes. These include Strength, Stamina, Dexterity, Agility, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma. 

Your starting attribute values are determined by your race and class combination, so allocating additional attribute points allows you to fine-tune your character to suit a particular role, whether you prefer dealing damage, surviving on the front lines, or supporting your group.

Understanding Death and Recovering Your Corpse

You will die in MnM, and you will probably die often. Understanding the death mechanics is essential to minimizing frustration and recovering from dangerous encounters. When you die, your equipment and spellbook remain on your corpse, and you respawn at your bind point. 

Casters and hybrid classes also lose their currently memorized spells, making death a particularly costly setback. However, true caster classes can use Cantrips to retain selected spells after death.

Fortunately, there are several ways to prepare for these situations. Consider befriending a Rogue, Monk, or Shadow Knight, as their class abilities can be valuable when recovering a corpse from dangerous areas. So, You can ask other players for help to locate or retrieve your body.

It is worth getting a spare spellbook from a spell vendor, reportedly for around one silver. You can also prepare it in advance with essential recovery spells, such as Invisibility and Invisibility to Undead, provided these spells are available to your character.

Keep the backup book in your bank until needed. If recovering your corpse becomes difficult, you can lend it to a group member who can memorize the necessary spells and help you retrieve your belongings.

Combat, Resting, and Rested Experience Bonus

Combat in Monsters & Memories rewards careful preparation, tactical decisions, and effective ability management. For example, Fighters build Vengeance stacks with a chance to trigger when they take damage, then spend those stacks on abilities such as Frenzy, Cleave, and Second Wind. 

Several abilities also share cooldowns, so understanding these interactions is essential to making the most of your combat toolkit.

Monks excel at pulling enemies and controlling encounters. Their feign death ability helps them escape dangerous situations or separate individual enemies from a group, while their mobility, dodges, and blocks allow them to avoid incoming damage. 

Resting is more than a way to recover between battles; it is also a progression tool. Staying near a campfire or inside an inn grants Rested state, allowing you to accumulate a 15% experience bonus. You can store up to 20 minutes of rested experience, which takes roughly two minutes to accumulate fully. Leaving the area early grants a proportionate amount instead.

To create a campfire in the field, you need Survival skill and eight pieces of wood. Rangers can also learn the class-specific spell Hearth of the Ranger, which creates a campfire that lasts longer than a normal one. Make resting part of your group's routine between pulls to gain bonus experience while preparing for the next encounter.

Gathering and Crafting

Instead of rushing to find resources, consider learning a gathering profession early. Gathering is a useful way to support your crafting progression and earn Monsters and Memories gold. Each gathering skill requires its corresponding tool to be equipped in your main-hand slot. Common examples include a mining pick, lumberjack axe, herbalism sickle, and a fishing pole.

Each gathering profession also has a dedicated gathering pouch that is larger than a standard pouch and can be equipped in a belt slot. These pouches provide extra storage for gathering activities, making it easier to carry the materials you collect.

Many crafting and refining recipes require raw materials collected in the wild, while excess resources can be sold to other players or merchants.

Managing Inventory and Weight

Weight is just as important as inventory space. Every item you carry or equip contributes to your total weight. Exceeding your weight allowance triggers Encumbered state, which progressively reduces your movement speed and eventually prevents you from moving. 

Teleportation spells also fail while you are encumbered. Increasing your Strength or selling and discarding unnecessary items can help you stay within your weight limit.

Death makes inventory management even more important because your belongings remain on your corpse. Avoid carrying valuable equipment or unnecessary items when exploring dangerous areas and leave spare supplies in the bank whenever practical.

That concludes the beginner's guide. Success in MnM comes down to preparation, resource management, and cooperation with other players. By mastering these fundamentals early, you can spend less time recovering from setbacks and more time exploring the world, defeating challenging enemies, and progressing alongside your group.

The long-awaited content for players has finally been confirmed: Path of Exile 3.30 will officially launch on November 13, 2026 (Pacific Time). The upcoming expansion is expected to bring a brand-new Challenge League, new character progression paths, and potentially significant changes to endgame content.

This article provides players with a detailed explanation of everything they need to know about Path of Exile 3.30, including the schedule, content, and preparation.

Release Date and Schedule

According to the announced expansion schedule, PoE 3.30 will officially launch on November 13, 2026 (Pacific Standard Time).

The studio plans to announce the new expansion at ExileCon 2026 on November 6th, giving players approximately one week to familiarize themselves with the new content and develop league progression strategies.

The current Challenge League - Curse of the Allflame - will end at 1 PM Pacific Standard Time on November 9th. This means players only have a few days between the end of the current league and the launch of the next expansion.

Why This time?

League Cycle Management

PoE 3.29 Curse of the Allflame started on July 24th. If the official release skips 2026 and postpones 3.30 to early 2027, 3.29 league's duration will far exceed the normal league cycle.

A long and tedious league could lead to a significant player exodus. Many PoE1 players might become bored, stop logging in, or switch to other games.

A standard PoE league requires trailers, announcement videos, live streams, and full patch notes several weeks before launch. October's release window is insufficient to complete all pre-launch asset creation and quality assurance work.

November gives the team several extra weeks to refine game mechanics, balance the game, fix bugs, and prepare ExileCon presentation materials.

Market and Competition Trade-offs

Late November is a peak period for major game releases; releasing Path of Exile 3.30 at this time would be disadvantageous. Meanwhile, PoE2 1.0 will launch on December 11th, and its implementation would fragment the player base and marketing budget, impacting the launch of both games.

Significant Endgame Changes

One of the most anticipated aspects of PoE 3.30 is the studio's publicly stated commitment to significant changes to endgame content. The focus is on updating existing systems and making more endgame events more engaging.

While full details haven't been released in the schedule, these plans suggest that 3.30 leagues could impact how players farm, kill monsters, and acquire loot. Specifically:

Changes to Existing League Mechanics

PoE has accumulated a wealth of league mechanics over the years, providing players with a wide range of choices. However, some players rely on familiar combinations of mechanics, Atlas investments, and Scarabs to maximize their gains.

The studio has discussed re-evaluating existing league mechanics and giving them a more meaningful gameplay experience. The final implementation may encourage players to explore different activities rather than relying on a few fixed farming strategies.

Potential Changes to Loot Distribution

Loot distribution has always been a significant issue, especially given that high-value loot primarily comes from predictable containers or specific event rewards.

The studio has indicated its intention to rethink the loot distribution mechanism and reduce the predictability of high-value drops. If these ideas are ultimately implemented in PoE 3.30 league, players may need to rethink how to acquire high-value items and materials.

Possible impacts include: more diverse farming strategies, changes to how certain items are acquired, and adjustments to the early-game trading economy.

Therefore, in the early stages of the league, some unique items, crafting materials, and other useful resources may become extremely valuable depending on player demand. If you are short on funds, you can directly buy PoE currency, and we will assist you as quickly as possible.

New Skills and Balance Changes

For players preparing for the new league character, new skills, support gems, ascendancy adjustments, and balance changes are always a focus.

According to my sources, Path of Exile 3.30 is unlikely to introduce a large number of new skills or rework specific classes. However, there may be skill balance adjustments, unique item changes, and new support gems.

How to Prepare?

While some important details remain unknown, players can prepare for the new league in some practical ways:

Complete Current League Objectives

Curse of the Allflame ends on November 9th. If you are still working to earn league challenge rewards, prioritize objectives that require specific encounters, boss fights, or special character configurations.

Completing the more difficult challenges early is much safer than waiting until the last day to complete them all. Afterward, review your progress and focus on objectives that are less time-consuming or resource-intensive.

Research Potential League-Starters

A good 3.30 league starter character should perform consistently during leveling, be effective without expensive gear, and have a clear late-game development path.

Research several different character builds and consider their strengths, weaknesses, and gear requirements. Once 3.30 patch notes are released, check if there have been significant changes to core abilities, support gems, or key items.

If your preferred build has been significantly weakened or you can't use important interaction mechanics, having backup plans can make your start smoother.

Follow Official Patch Notes

November 6th patch notes should help players understand the main features of the expansion, but detailed patch notes are crucial for evaluating specific builds and strategies.

This concludes our analysis of Path of Exile 3.30. Besides the release schedule, the most noteworthy development is the planned endgame content update. New league mechanics and loot distribution changes may impact character progression, monster-killing efficiency, and the economy.

Aion 2's gathering and crafting systems are tightly integrated and crucial to character progression. Unlike many MMOs that treat crafting as optional, Aion 2 rewards players who actively participate in crafting system, providing them with better gear and higher Kinah income.

This guide covers everything from unlocking Essence Extraction to optimizing skill point allocation and mastering the five crafting professions, helping you gain an edge in Aion 2.

About Essence Extraction

Essence Extraction (Gathering) Works

Essence Extraction is unlocked after completing All Geared Up quest. Once unlocked, you can interact with resource nodes around the world by pressing F key on PC. This will launch a mini-game with two gauges: a success gauge (blue) and a failure gauge (orange).

Each resource node has three recharge attempts, meaning you have three chances to successfully extract resources before the resource runs out. If the blue progress bar fills up first, the gathering is successful. If the orange progress bar fills up first, the gathering fails and consumes one attempt.

Special Extraction Effects

During the extraction process, various buffs will randomly trigger. Lady Luck's Blessing significantly increases the success rate, potentially jumping instantly from 25% to 100%. Appraisal Boost improves material quality, upgrading level 1 (common) materials to level 2 (green), level 3 (blue), or even level 4 (yellow).

Plentiful Harvest Boost doubles or triples the amount of materials collected. These effects can trigger individually or simultaneously under good luck.

Proficiency Levels and Skill Points

In Aion 2, Essence Extraction is divided into two levels: Novice (levels 1-50) and Professional (levels 1-50), totaling 100 levels. Advancing from Novice to Professional requires completing a quest that requires extracting one Splendent Ruby from a ruby ​​vein.

The skill tree (open by pressing Alt + F) contains three general skills and six specialization paths. General skills apply to all extraction attempts, regardless of material type: Proficient Handling increases the amount of material filled in the success bar with each successful extraction, thus speeding up extraction.

A recommended general skill point allocation is: Lady Luck 10 points, Proficient Handling 9 points, Delicate Touch 6 points. Specific point priority can be adjusted based on the gathering objective.

About Crafting

Overview of Five Professions

Aion 2 features five crafting professions: Blacksmithing, Armorsmithing, Handicrafting, Alchemy, and Cooking. Each profession levels up independently, but you can learn multiple professions on the same character.

Blacksmithing crafts melee weapons, including Greatswords, Longswords, Daggers, Maces, and Guards. It can also refine materials such as Balaur Horns and Orichalcum Ore into ingots, which can be used in multiple combat classes. 

Armorsmithing crafts all protective gear: Helmets, Pauldrons, Chest Armor, Leg Armor, Gloves, Boots, and Cloaks. It also crafts Oricalcum and Leather. Since all classes require armor, this profession has the broadest clientele and stable demand across all level ranges.

Handicrafting focuses on trinkets and some weapons: rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, bows, and staves. It also crafts Wood Logs, Gemstones, and Crystals. Jewelcrafting is particularly valuable, with the largest market demand.

Alchemy encompasses potions, scrolls, magic stones, spellbooks, orbs, and crafting materials such as paper and powder. The continuous demand for consumables, especially flight recovery items in Abyss PvP, makes Alchemy one of the most consistently profitable professions.

Cooking produces food and drinks that provide temporary stat boosts and practical benefits, offering significant advantages to players, and the required materials are available early in the game.

Your crafting profession should align with your class and goals. If you're playing a melee class and want to craft your own weapons, Blacksmithing is the natural choice. If your sole purpose is to earn Aion 2 Kinah, Alchemy and Handicrafting are usually the best options.

Crafting Works

The crafting system is similar to Essence Extraction, using a meter system. There are success and failure meters, and each crafting round determines which meter fills first. If the success meter fills first, the item is successfully crafted; if the failure meter fills first, all materials are lost.

Two special effects are triggered during crafting. The first is similar to Lady Luck, automatically filling the success meter. The second is Critical Crafting (also known as a Combo), which upgrades the quality of the crafted item by one level. For example, a white item might become green, and a blue item might become yellow.

However, be aware that moving or being attacked during crafting will interrupt the process and cause automatic failure, while materials will still be consumed.

Leveling and Crafting Efficiently

In Aion 2, to efficiently level up your crafting skill, start with the most basic materials in the skill's recipe list. For example, when leveling up your Alchemy skill, repeatedly craft Magic Crystals until you reach level 5, then craft Spiritstone Powder. Each crafting craft rewards profession experience, with higher-level recipes typically providing more experience.

Some recipes require catalysts, which can be obtained by trading with merchants near the crafting table. To avoid interruptions during crafting, it's recommended to get catalysts in bulk before starting.

As your proficiency increases, your success rate will naturally improve. Therefore, it's worthwhile to quickly level up using inexpensive recipes before attempting high-value crafting.

This concludes the article on gathering and crafting in Aion 2. Essence Extraction provides raw materials, while crafting transforms them into powerful equipment and consumables. These two systems complement each other and drive continuous development.

Whether your goal is to achieve self-sufficiency in gear, maximize Kinah income, or provide support for your guild raids, a deep understanding of these systems will provide a significant advantage in your gaming journey.

CoD: Modern Warfare 4 Early Access is coming soon, starting with the campaign mode on October 16th, followed by DMZ Early Access on the 20th, and finally, the game's official release on October 23rd.

Many players are asking themselves a simple yet important question: Should I get Modern Warfare 4 now? Is it worth it? If so, which Edition should I choose?

This article will detail everything you need to know before getting CoD: Modern Warfare 4, including exclusive bonuses, confirmed pay-to-win mechanics, and some honest advice if you're still undecided.

Should You Pre-order Modern Warfare 4?

Many players are hesitant about whether to get the game now, and this hesitation is completely understandable. Currently, player trust in Call of Duty series and the game's official team is generally low, and their recent behavior has also fueled doubts among many players.

This year, the game will not be available on Game Pass on launch day. Aside from Warzone, all other content requires a separate pay, and Warzone won't even launch this month - it won't be available until early November.

Meanwhile, DMZ is now also paid content, a significant change from previous years. Given the many uncertainties at present, my advice is simple: wait and see how the game performs after launch, and wait for initial player reviews.

This way, you won't get the game only to find that the full version is different from the beta, preventing you from truly enjoying the game. While there may be a lot of new content in the game, aside from the short clips released in the past few days, we still know very little about most of the gameplay.

Two Editions: Standard and Vault

If you've decided to get CoD MW4 now, you have two options: Standard Edition and Vault Edition.

Standard Edition

Standard Edition costs $69.99 and includes the full game and three core modes: Campaign, Multiplayer, and DMZ. Getting any digital version grants early access to the public beta, Hunter Killer Operator skin (available immediately in Black Ops 7 and Warzone), and Inner Circuit M4 blueprint available at the launch of CoD MW4.

Hunter Killer Operator skin is a stealth-focused operator skin that you can equip immediately in all compatible games. Inner Circuit M4 blueprint features special visuals on Xbox Series X|S, paying homage to the original Xbox's green branding, while other platforms adopt a military-grade style.

Vault Edition

Vault Edition costs $99.99, $30 more than the standard edition, and includes all the content of the standard edition plus several exclusive content packs. I think the most valuable part is the complete BlackCell season, as that usually costs about $30 separately.

Pre-ordering Vault Edition now grants you instant access to 20 Battle Pass tier jumps and 1,100 COD Points, a full Battle Pass with over 100 rewards, new exclusive Special Forces units and weapon blueprints, and BlackCell variants of select Battle Pass content.

CoD Modern Warfare 4 Vault Edition also includes two Operator Packs. Hostile Alliance Pack offers Price (with masked and unmasked variants), Valeria (also with variants), Ghost, and Blix.

Special Forces Pack adds four new Special Forces units, representing real-world military units from France, Germany, South Korea, and United Kingdom, each with a localized voice pack.

At the same time, upon game launch, you will also receive Signature Weapon Collection, which includes the following weapons: Kastov 762 assault rifle with Voltspine blueprint and its RF pulse barrel; ISO Nightshade SMG with La Sombra Venenosa blueprint and RFID tracking ammunition;

Rezi 12 shotgun with Shattered Code blueprint and explosive slug conversion; Oris 8.6 marksman rifle with Volt-Edge blueprint and throwing knife module; and Combat Knife with Sombra Besada blueprint.

If you feel unfamiliar with these weapons, you can buy CoD Modern Warfare 4 Bot Lobbies after the game launches to practice and help you master the controls more quickly and gain an advantage.

In addition, in CoD MW4 DMZ, all Vault Edition owners receive a deployment pack containing a range of advantages:

• Two weapon insurance contracts
• Two operator rescue beacons
• Two Fulton drop markers
• Two medium backpacks for your stash right away
• Two plate carriers for your stash right away
• Three active duty slots instead of just two

This last advantage is significant. It means you can have three active duty slots at any time, each with a different skill tree, allowing you to focus on their own unique playstyle.

Having an extra duty slot that's ready to be deployed and has its traits ready is a huge advantage. If you're interested in this, Vault Edition lets you achieve it directly.

How to Decide?

If you primarily play campaign and casual games, don't need Battle Pass system, or want to keep your prepayment under $70, choose Standard Edition.

If you frequently play Multiplayer and Demilitarized Zone modes, regularly acquire Battle Passes, and prioritize cosmetic upgrades, choose Vault Edition. The addition of BlackCell alone more than offsets $30 price difference.

If you qualify for the 10% loyalty discount, Vault Edition effectively costs $89.99, making it even more cost-effective. This discount applies to players who own and have played eligible Call of Duty games on the same platform account used for pre-order.

This concludes the information you need before getting CoD Modern Warfare 4. Hopefully, this article has been helpful in making an informed decision. If you're still hesitant, consider waiting and seeing reviews and feedback after the game's release.