A recent discovery by an EA PC app user has revealed that typing “Arc Raiders” in the platform’s chat feature results in the title being replaced entirely with hashtags. The finding has stirred speculation among fans, particularly with the game’s October 30 release date drawing closer and EA’s own Battlefield 6 expected to launch in the same month.
The user, known as WifiRouterYT, shared a short video on the Arc Raiders subreddit demonstrating the filter in action. Interestingly, other titles from competing publishers — including Fortnite, Call of Duty, Escape from Tarkov, and Marathon — were unaffected by the censor. Even using the capitalized “ARC Raiders” did not bypass the block.
Potential Rivalry Between EA and Embark Studios
Arc Raiders is being developed by Embark Studios, a team founded in 2018 by former DICE CEO Patrick Söderlund. Many former DICE developers are also working on the project, which has led some players to suspect lingering tension between EA and its former talent.
However, Embark’s other title, The Finals, can be typed in EA’s chat without triggering censorship. This has fueled speculation that the block might be tied specifically to Arc Raiders’ timing, given its direct overlap with Battlefield 6’s release window.
Battlefield 6’s Ambitious Launch Goals
Battlefield 6 is set for a massive marketing push following the mixed reception of Battlefield 2042. EA is deploying multiple studios — DICE, Ripple Effect, Criterion, and Motive — to ensure a polished product. Early interest is strong, with the campaign trailer reportedly surpassing Call of Duty: Black Ops 7’s reveal in likes within the first hour.
The publisher reportedly aims to reach 100 million players over the game’s lifespan. Beta testing begins this month, with early access from August 7 and an open beta starting August 9.
Arc Raiders’ Road to Release
While Battlefield 6 players will get their first hands-on experience soon, Arc Raiders fans will need to wait until launch day. No new beta or public playtest periods have been announced for the third-person sci-fi extraction shooter, meaning all eyes are now on its October 30 release.
Whether the EA app’s chat restriction is an intentional competitive move or simply a curious filter remains unclear, but it has already sparked discussions about the relationship between EA and Embark Studios — and whether this could be the start of a quiet rivalry between the two titles this fall.
