Arc Raiders servers crash: 60,000+ players locked out with ARAU0297 error on November 19

Photo of author

By TGT Staff

Arc Raiders, the extraction shooter developed by Embark Studios that launched October 30, 2025, experienced widespread server outages on November 19, 2025. The game, which received a nomination for Best Multiplayer at The Game Awards 2025, saw tens of thousands of players unable to connect during the evening hours. Players across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S platforms reported persistent connection failures and error messages preventing access to the game.

The outage tracking service DownDetector recorded a spike from the typical 20-30 reports per poll to over 60,000 reports during the peak of the incident. Players from major US cities including New York, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles were among those affected by the connectivity issues.

Arc Raiders Server Outage: November 19 Incident Tracker

Real-Time Impact Analysis & Recovery Timeline

Servers Recovering – Players Returning with Queue Times
60,000+
Peak DownDetector Reports During Outage
Multiple
US Cities Affected Nationwide
3 Weeks
Since Launch on October 30, 2025

📅 Outage Timeline: How Events Unfolded

November 19, 2025 – 6:00 PM PT / 9:00 PM ET
Reports began emerging on social media as players encountered connection failures. Users received “Online Connection Error” messages with error code ARAU0297 stating “Online services are currently unavailable.” Players attempting to join matches were met with “network timeout” errors and inability to load the game.
Peak Impact Period
DownDetector recorded over 60,000 user reports, a significant increase from the typical 20-30 reports. Players worldwide on all platforms (PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S) were affected. The outage occurred during evening hours when many players were attempting to log in after work.
November 20, 2025 – 3:17 AM EST
Community Manager Bailey confirmed on the Arc Raiders Discord that “the server is recovering right now, should be back soon,” recommending players to “wait a bit and try again.” Players began reporting successful logins, though many experienced extended queue times ranging from 20-30 minutes.
Recovery Phase
Service restoration progressed with players gradually regaining access. Some users connected immediately while others who started at the same time faced significantly longer wait periods. The queue system appeared inconsistent during the recovery phase, with connection times varying between players attempting to log in simultaneously.

🌍 Regional Impact & Player Experiences

🏙️ New York & Chicago
Highest concentration of complaints among US cities. Players reported persistent connection errors with the game failing to load entirely and being unable to access online services.
🌉 West Coast Cities
Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles players encountered similar “network timeout” errors. Many reported retrieving data from backend services timed out, preventing login attempts.
⏱️ Queue Inconsistencies
During recovery, players experienced varied queue times. Some logged in immediately while others starting at the same time waited 20+ minutes, creating confusion about server status.
💾 Progress Concerns
Players expressed concerns about potential loss of game progress during the outage, though no official reports of data loss emerged from the incident.
ℹ️ Game Context & Industry Perspective

The outage occurred approximately three weeks after Arc Raiders launched on October 30, 2025. The extraction shooter, available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, has attracted significant player interest since release. Players scavenge for resources on a post-apocalyptic Earth while facing both AI-controlled robotic enemies called “ARC” and other human players. The game can be played solo or in teams of two or three.

Arc Raiders received recognition with a Best Multiplayer Game nomination at The Game Awards 2025, announced shortly before this outage. Server issues during popular multiplayer game launches remain common across the industry. Similar titles like XDefiant have faced comparable connectivity challenges. For additional gaming industry developments, see coverage of Metroid Prime 4 performance details and Anno 117 AI art controversy.

The November 19, 2025 Arc Raiders server outage was discussed through tracking over 60,000 player reports on DownDetector during peak impact. The timeline covered the initial connection failures at 6:00 PM PT, the confirmation of server recovery from Community Manager Bailey at 3:17 AM EST on November 20, and the subsequent gradual restoration of service with variable queue times.

The incident affected players across multiple US cities including New York, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Players experienced error code ARAU0297 and network timeout messages preventing access to the game. The coverage included player experiences during the outage and recovery phase, along with context about the game’s October 30, 2025 launch and Best Multiplayer nomination at The Game Awards 2025.

Leave a comment