Right, that's it, I've already had enough of Arc Raiders' terrifying tumbleweeds

Arc Raiders: Key art of a raider looking over their shoulder in a forest to look at another raider in the aiming at them in the distance.

(Image credit: Embark)

I don't think I'm alone in saying Arc Raiders is a horror game, at least at times. I'm not normally afraid to go toe to toe with Arcs or other players, but with a backpack full of loot on the line, I'm always making a beeline for the exit.

There's nothing that makes said escape more terrifying than thinking you saw something, or someone, moving in your peripheral vision. Maybe it's a player setting up the perfect ambush and you're walking into a trap? Perhaps it's a friendly player, though you'll find out too late if it's not.

Arc Raiders tumbleweed mimic: An annotated image of a player stood between skips looking out at a tumbleweed in a wooded environment. The annotation magnifies the tumbleweed and features a human-like figure scribbled over it. — Is that a person or a tumbleweed? I can't quite tell. (Image credit: Embark)

Or maybe it wasn't a player at all. More often than not, it's nothing more than a dead, dried-out plant rolling on by without a care in the world—completely oblivious to the fact that I either just shat my pants or was prepared to unload a full mag on it. Somehow they never fail to trick me into thinking they're a player stalking me, and it's got me feeling like a Bigfoot photographer.

Tumbleweeds are everywhere in Arc Raiders. Honestly, if you told me they were bugged and appearing more often than intended, I'd believe you. Add to this all the random debris also blowing past you, like scraps of paper, and you'll be seeing enemies literally everywhere you look.

Despite the instant psychic damage tumbleweeds inflict, or perhaps because of it, some of you sickos want to turn this detritus into an actual enemy. Tumbleweed armed with guns or claws, really?

ARC Tumbleweed Mimic Concept from r/ArcRaiders

As much as the mere thought sends me into a spiral, I'll admit I do think it would be a very funny move on Embark's part. This concept by ReffiComics is a good example of what could be done to weaponise tumbleweed, effectively turning them into robotic, face-hugging spiders. Oh, I guess now's the time to mention I'm also an arachnophobe.

If tumbleweed were to gain sentience, I hope Embark doesn't clue us in beforehand. I'd love to see the reactions of someone discovering this new enemy for the first time, so long as that person isn't me.

Rory has made the fatal error of playing way too many live service games at once, and somehow still finding time for everything in between. Sure, he’s an expert at Destiny 2, Call of Duty, and more, but at what cost? He’s even sunk 1,000 hours into The Elder Scrolls Online over the years. At least he put all those hours spent grinding challenges to good use over the years as a freelancer and guides editor. In his spare time, he’s also an avid video creator, often breaking down the environmental design of his favourite games. If you can’t track him down, he’s probably lost in a cave with a bunch of dwarves shouting “rock and stone” to no end.

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