In Arc Raiders solo queue, chat is the quickest route to survival

This past weekend, I played Arc Raiders almost exclusively in solo queue. And I've been having the time of my life. Not since early WoW has a game taken hold of my imagination. Early doors, yes, but this is a classic in the making.

What fascinates me about Arc Raiders is the player's response to its beautifully drawn world. Extraction shooters have a fair and deserved reputation for brutality. Yet so far, I'm not really seeing that play out in my solo-only runs.

At least two-thirds of the time, player encounters can be dissolved and smoothed over. A quick emote, a hands up, a "don't shoot," and the guns might well be pointed away.

This is turning into a magical moments machine for me. Quiet fear and hiding in cupboards at the sound of gunfire has been replaced by a sense of nervous engagement whenever I hear another player. I've gone from being terrified of my own shadow to wanting to meet up and engage with new friends.

I think the game acts as a playable Rorschach test - one that might be especially uncomfortable to Brits. My secret, if there is one, is that I'm actually going to speak to other players. Madness, I know.

As a nation, we British seem to avoid turning on our mics when playing with strangers under almost all circumstances. That's not true with other nations. When I compare notes with American or European chums, I'm always taken aback by how open they are to chat online. Put it down to our very specific national need to not actually say the thing we are thinking.

Please take it from me: as an Englishman in Speranza, if you're going to actually find friends and influence people, you do have to speak. And you probably have to speak first.

Nine times out of ten, if I see another player, I'll be the one to start the conversation. Not just with a 'don't shoot' emote, but a spoken, "hey, I can see you, but I'm friendly."

Or, if things have already kicked off, a yelped, "chill chill chill chill." That seems to instantly diffuse the situation, even if the other person remains mute. I've had some authentically lovely moments chilling by the elevator with newly made temporary friends.

A couple of times, emoting and chatting post-knockdown have even earned me a revive and reprieve. It turns out that even the most dangerous raiders feel remorse.

I've been trying to work out why this is. Why is this a friendlier world to explore than Tarkov or Hunt?

Partly, I think it's the semi-Blizzardification of the extraction shooter. This is a polished, good-looking, and slick game. It works, works well, and can attract a more casual audience, who are perhaps slightly less jaded than genre veterans. I think part of it is the Arc themselves; they are an authentically weird spectacle, creating a sense of wonder.

Mainly, though, I think it's the dynamics of a solo queue. There is no realistic chance of taking down the larger Arc creations in this mode. Everyone is equally vulnerable and equally at risk. And, frankly, if we are to die, we're probably not carrying enough interesting stuff to make fighting over it worthwhile. That changes the calculation for a firefight. It probably isn't worth engaging, as a 75% chance of getting out with your stuff alongside a stranger is better odds than a 30%-50% chance of winning a firefight and getting some extra bits. That creates a world where co-operation and community matter more than gun skills.

Lastly, I think I'm probably more gregarious than most. I'm not afraid of chatting to new people and making friends. And that's maybe not you at the moment.

So if you're struggling in solo queues, I have a message and a tip. Turn your mic on. Start chatting. Put yourself out there just a tiny bit. Worst case scenario is that someone you will never ever meet again might hear your voice.

I believe that if you turn that mic on and start chatting, you'll get so much from this wonderful game.