Well, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad after all. In very rare cases, the worst thing that could happen would be getting shot from across the map. Running through the edge of the world is another possibility. But, if you have, like, never been hit by lightning while trying to make a small jump, then you have not living the newest gaming reality of one player in ARC Raiders, and the video is so weird. The player was just jumping over the gap when, out of nowhere, lightning struck and carried him up into the air. At first, Dexerto shared the video, and it quickly became viral because it is one of those “you need to see it to believe it” gaming moments that seem to be straight from a movie script.
So, what is happening with ARC Raiders? The game is not so familiar for the public who have not been following it; it is a free-to-play PvEvP shooter from Embark Studios which is an enterprise founded by the ex-developers of Battlefield. You team with others, fight the robotic invaders known as the ARC, and try to survive in a not-so-friendly sci-fi world. The environment is considered a threat, but usually, it means weather effects or even some environmental hazards. Not, you know, the sky itself picking to erase you while you are doing parkour. The game has been present for some time and players are slowly discovering its different areas. Nevertheless, this is a new instance of environmental storytelling on a different level. One gamer on Twitter, FL∆CKØ, very aptly expressed it: “Lol…Bro unlocked Weather DLC mid-jump. ARC Raiders Devs mentioned environmental storytelling and meant it literally.”
The upload reactions were a mix of sheer amazement and humorous comments. The gamers could hardly believe it and were all very surprised by this occurrence. For example, one user reflected the nearly universal sentiment of “What are the odds lol,” just like every other spectator of the video. Another player, Evils, contemplated the matter more philosophically: “Lightning chooses the daring ones, the frail ones perish. The question of survival is one of strength.” Very profound, man. On the contrary, Hezekiah’s comment is likely the most relatable, stating, “Nah, I am uninstalling immediately after that.” You cannot blame them actually; if the game is turning divine intervention against you, then what is the point?
Some players are coming up with the idea that the phenomenon might be a developer’s rare, unintentional easter egg that is extremely well hidden. Luc Berkefeld joked, “The gamedev who planted that easter egg rn,” while providing a GIF of a very self-satisfied person. It is very possible actually! The developer has been very open about their desire to make the game world dynamic and alive. What if this is only a very rare and outstanding event that can take place in the game and make one player’s tale unforgettable even if brutally unfair? Or, as solanaidentity said, “Devs were like, ‘watch this’.” It does indeed have that vibe, doesn’t it? Like a person in the control room saw a player in a susceptible spot and just could not help themselves.
Then there is the other side of the story that is not so nice. Not everyone thinks it is humorous. The Emancy user who goes by the handle of Emery responded with a rather gloomy opinion: “Sad to say but this game is already dying.” It is a harsh comment that sparked its own little thread and prompted another person to bring up the subject of betting in sports (??), which was indeed… random. However, it reflects one of the issues that come with viral moments: they can sometimes overshadow the game’s health. Is the crazy lightning a sign of a cool and varied world or just a distraction? To most of the people who watched the clip, it is probably the first one. It is the kind of thing that makes players eager to start the game and check what other wild things can occur.
But, let us talk honestly for a moment. How could this even happen? The player was carrying a metal object, they were at the sky-high spot during a storm—it almost seems like they were asking for trouble. Trading Aloha summarized it succinctly: “Doomed from the start. Highest peak during a lightning storm carrying metal.” It is as if the game’s physics engine took a basic real-world lesson and applied it with extreme prejudice. And the timing. The sheer cinematic timing of it. As MohammedAli remarked, “Straight out of a movie.” It’s so perfectly set up— the leap, the arc, the sudden bright flash and zap. You couldn’t ask for better!
It is a wonderful piece of marketing for ARC Raiders. People will either love it or hate it; the fact is that it will be a topic of discussion among everyone. Furthermore, it is a sign that the game can be unpredictably deep, especially on platforms like PlayStation and Xbox.
