Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsStart by verifying ARC Raiders’ files, rebooting Windows, and disabling overlays or other background utilities. An EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION crash means the game attempted to access invalid memory; it does not automatically mean your RAM is defective. The correct fix depends on when the crash occurs and which module Windows reports.
What the error means
EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION is a generic invalid-memory-access error. Drivers, corrupted game files or shader caches, overlays, antivirus software, unstable CPU/GPU/RAM settings, and hardware faults can all produce it. Do not replace RAM or change BIOS settings solely because this message appears.
The timing provides a useful first clue:
- Immediately on launch or at the splash screen: investigate Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC), overlays, security software, missing runtimes, and corrupted configuration or installation files.
- During shader compilation: investigate graphics drivers, shader data, unstable overclocks or memory profiles, temperatures, and VRAM pressure.
- During gameplay: investigate drivers, graphics settings, overheating, unstable hardware settings, background software, and the faulting module in Windows.
For background on the exception and its possible causes, see this technical explanation of ARC Raiders access-violation crashes.
Work through these fixes in order
1. Reboot Windows and close stuck ARC Raiders processes
Restart Windows before trying more invasive fixes. EAC can retain a game process or driver state after a crash.
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If the error says “Maximum simultaneous game instances reached,” press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Find the ARC Raiders process, right-click it, select End task, and launch the game again. If no ARC Raiders process is listed, reboot Windows to clear the remaining EAC state.
2. Verify the Steam installation
Steam can replace missing or corrupted game files:
- Open Steam and go to Library.
- Right-click ARC Raiders and choose Properties.
- Open Installed Files.
- Select Verify integrity of game files.
Wait for the process to finish, then restart Steam and test the game. Verification repairs the game installation, but it is not a universal repair for every EAC problem.
These steps are included in Embark’s PC crash and launch troubleshooting guide.
3. Check antivirus and firewall interference
Security software can lock EAC files or prevent the anti-cheat service from starting. Ensure ARC Raiders is allowed through your antivirus and firewall, and add EasyAntiCheat.exe to the relevant allowed-applications or whitelist list.
For EAC Error 30005 or “service unable to start,” Embark specifically recommends adding this folder as an antivirus exclusion:
C:Program Files (x86)EasyAntiCheat_EOSRestart Windows after changing the exclusion. The exact folder can differ if Windows or the game uses a nonstandard installation, so confirm the path on your PC.
4. Disable overlays and background utilities
Temporarily disable non-essential programs that inject an overlay or hook into games. Test without tools such as recording overlays, hardware-monitoring utilities, RGB or tuning software, and other game overlays. Also close unnecessary launchers and background applications.
If you cannot identify the conflicting program, perform a clean-boot test:
- Press Windows + R, type
msconfig, and press Enter. - Open Services.
- Check Hide all Microsoft services.
- Click Disable all.
- Open the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.
- Disable all startup items.
- Close Task Manager, click OK, and restart Windows.
If ARC Raiders works after the clean boot, re-enable services and startup items in groups until you identify the conflict. Embark lists this procedure as a supported loading-issue diagnostic.
5. Run the game as administrator
Right-click the ARC Raiders shortcut and choose Properties. Open Compatibility, enable Run this program as an administrator, click Apply, and then click OK. Launch the game again.
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This can help when permissions prevent the game or EAC from accessing required files, but it should not be treated as a general solution for graphics-driver crashes.
6. Update Windows, DirectX, and your graphics driver
Install pending Windows updates and restart. On current Windows 11 systems, use Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. Embark’s support page uses the older Windows 10 wording, Start > Settings > Update & Security > Check for Updates, and was updated on March 18, 2026.
Embark also identifies outdated DirectX as a possible crash cause and directs players to Microsoft’s current DirectX installer. The support article does not document a special ARC Raiders command or in-game setting for switching DirectX versions.
For crashes during shader compilation or gameplay, install the latest stable driver for your GPU from its manufacturer. If the crashes began immediately after a driver update, a clean driver reinstall or rollback may be more appropriate than repeatedly changing game settings.
7. Inspect the Windows crash record
Event Viewer can reveal whether the crash names a graphics driver, overlay, or game module:
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- Right-click Start and open Event Viewer.
- Go to Windows Logs > Application.
- Open the red Error recorded at the crash time.
- Note Faulting application name and Faulting module name.
A GPU-driver DLL points toward driver or graphics stability troubleshooting. A third-party overlay module points toward the associated utility. A game module does not prove the game itself is defective, but it is useful information for support escalation.
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8. Test unstable hardware settings
If crashes started after enabling an overclock, undervolt, XMP, EXPO, or another memory profile, temporarily return the affected component to default settings and test again. This is a stability test, not a confirmed ARC Raiders-specific fix.
Likewise, do not disable Intel VT-x or AMD SVM merely because a community guide recommends it. Embark’s current support instructions do not recommend disabling CPU virtualization, and the available evidence does not establish it as an ARC Raiders fix.
9. Reinstall when the installation has an integrity error
For ARAV8007 / System Integrity Violation, Embark says the game’s file structure has changed unexpectedly and documents deleting the game folder before reinstalling:
C:Program Files (x86)SteamsteamappscommonARC RaidersYour Steam library may be on another drive, so use the actual library location rather than assuming this path.
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For a complete clean reinstall, Embark’s documented sequence is:
- Uninstall ARC Raiders.
- Delete
C:Program FilesEmbark Studios. - Press Windows + R, enter
%localappdata%, and press Enter. - Delete
%localappdata%Embark StudiosARC Raiders. - Do not delete the entire
Embark Studiosfolder if another Embark game is installed. - Empty the Recycle Bin.
- Restart Windows.
- Redownload ARC Raiders.
- Right-click the installer and choose Run as administrator.
Do not manually delete EAC driver files as a first-line fix. Community posts may suggest deleting EasyAntiCheat_EOS.sys, but Embark’s current guidance instead uses rebooting, exclusions, EAC repair procedures, ending stuck processes, or reinstalling according to the specific error.
About the unofficial -dx11 launch option
Some community guides suggest adding -dx11 under Steam > Library > right-click ARC Raiders > Properties > General > Launch Options. This is an unofficial experiment: Embark’s current crash guidance does not document -dx11, a DirectX 11 mode, or this launch option as a supported fix.
If you test it, remove the option again if it has no effect or creates a new problem. Do not present it as a guaranteed way to force ARC Raiders to run on DirectX 11.
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What to send Embark Support
If the crash continues after file verification, rebooting, background-process testing, security checks, and driver or settings troubleshooting, record:
- the exact exception text;
- when the crash occurs: launch, splash screen, shader compilation, menu, or gameplay;
- CPU, GPU, and installed RAM amount;
- Windows version;
- GPU-driver version;
- storage type and installation drive;
- the Event Viewer faulting application and module names;
- which fixes you already tested.
This information is more useful than reporting only that the game “crashes randomly,” and it helps distinguish EAC, driver, overlay, installation, stability, and hardware paths.
Quick Recap
Quick decision guide
| Symptom | Best first actions |
|---|---|
| Crash before the game reaches the menu | Reboot, end stuck processes, verify files, check EAC exclusions, disable overlays, and test administrator mode. |
| EAC Error 30005 | Reboot, then exclude C:Program Files (x86)EasyAntiCheat_EOS from antivirus scanning. |
| “Maximum simultaneous game instances reached” | End the ARC Raiders process in Task Manager; reboot if it is not listed. |
| ARAV8007 / System Integrity Violation | Delete the ARC Raiders installation folder and reinstall as documented by Embark. |
| Crash during shaders or gameplay | Update or reinstall the GPU driver, disable overlays, check temperatures and VRAM pressure, and test default hardware settings. |
| Crash names a third-party module | Disable or update the software associated with that module and retest. |
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