ARC-686

ARC-686 refers to a class of anomalous entities documented in the ARC database. Although unfinished and not yet present in the game, ARC-686 has drawn significant attention from the community due to its cryptic ARC document, titled "DemonDogDocument" in the game files. Despite this placeholder designation, its official name remains unknown.
The beginning of its ARC document refers to ARC-686 using plural phrasing, suggesting the existence of multiple instances. However, the rest of the document refers to it as a singular entity, suggesting the plural designation was a typo, or made for simplicity and consistency with other entity entries.
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=== Appearance ===
The decrypted image from ARC-686's ARC document reveals its general form, a dog-like creature with a yellow, fur-covered body, except for its completely black furless legs. Its limbs appear to end in claws or fingers rather than paws. In the image, ARC-686 is holding up its left forelimb.
Other features include its black snout, visible red tongue, and what seem to be sharp teeth, though the distorted image makes this uncertain. The interior and exterior of its mouth, including its lips, are black. It has a small tail that adds to its canine resemblance, and coral-colored inner ears.
Initially, the document’s distorted image caused many players to mistake ARC-686 for a cat. However, after the picture was reconstructed and it was discovered that the game files labeled him as a demonic dog, its true form became clearer.
The blackened limbs seen in the image are a result from its shapeshifting ability. Its decrypted ARC document's description of its limbs elongating and turning black during its transformation suggests the photo was taken mid-transformation or shortly afterward.
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=== Characteristics ===
ARC-686 is a deceptive and predatory anomaly. At first, it appears docile, using its harmless canine form to lure potential prey. This passive state is misleading, as physical contact with ARC-686 initiates its transformation.
During this process, its limbs elongate, turn black, and it gradually becomes enraged. Once fully transformed, ARC-686 becomes hostile, aggressively pursuing its target until it catches them, presumably killing them.
The ARC document warns that physical contact with ARC-686 is strictly prohibited due to the high risk of triggering its transformation. Despite its animal-like appearance, ARC-686 is highly resistant to large-caliber bullets, rendering direct attacks ineffective.
ARC-686’s abilities are heavily speculated upon, especially regarding its senses and mobility. Based on its appearance, it likely possesses the ability to see, hear, and smell. However, its small or potentially black eyes, as depicted in its recovered ARC document image, suggest it might be blind, relying instead on other senses.
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=== Lore Connections ===
ARC-686 is indirectly referenced in the ARC Tape1. In the video, the narrator warns against "friendly-looking animals", which matches ARC-686's deceptive canine form:"If you encounter a friendly-looking animal, it's important to be cautious-" (tape glitches)While this phrase is being spoken, footage of The Classrooms is shown on video, suggesting it resides in the level. Its ARC document confirms this, as it states that the entity "dwells within the Lambda superstructure" in its decrypted version. However, players think it might still show up in later levels instead. This idea aligns with the developers’ tendency to move entities originally planned for one level to another, often to better fit new environments or enhance gameplay. For instance, the doll was originally found in The Classrooms but later also appeared in The Darkrooms, while the Mangler, once present in The Poolrooms, was removed entirely, taking it out of the main story and lore. Since ARC-686’s ARC document dates back to the game’s demo, it's possible that the entity's intended location has been changed since then.
One theory suggests that ARC-686’s original designation in The Classrooms was chosen simply because it was the only level available during the demo’s development. Its eventual inclusion in Tape 7 is considered plausible due to community demand and the developers’ awareness of the speculation. Additionally, ARC-686’s ARC document may receive an updated version to reflect its final design and mechanics upon release.
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=== Development and Speculation ===
ARC-686’s ARC document is one of the oldest in the game files, added in the demo, predating the current wrinkled-paper design used for other entity documents. At the time, the documents used Greek symbols like "Φ" in their designation. Developers later abandoned this style for clarity, though the original designation "Φ-686" remains used in this document.
Despite its absence in gameplay, ARC-686 is still in development, with the 2024 Christmas Update Easer Egg confirming it as a work-in-progress rather than a scrapped concept. Additionally, there is speculation that ARC-686 might possess unique movement abilities, such as walking on walls or jumping exceptionally high, deduced from the positioning of the easter egg, which suggests it can reach high areas. However, these abilities remain unconfirmed and may simply be tied to the developers’ choice of a hiding spot. 
Developers have confirmed that ARC-686 is dog-like in nature. This is supported by its decrypted ARC document, which explicitly uses the word "canine." The developers have also hinted at "big plans" for ARC-686, even suggesting that it might become the game's mascot upon its full release.
The image’s background, a brick wall, fuels player speculation about its intended location. Some players believe it might be found in exterior areas, such as the removed basketball court or other outdoor sections with brick walls in The Classrooms.
Before The Playrooms update, some players initially speculated ARC-686 could be added along with the update, though that wasn't the case. There is now speculation that it will come along with the upcoming tape 7.
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=== 2024 Christmas Update Easter Egg ===
The Christmas 2024 update, version 0.6.4, introduced a secret unrelated to its festive theme. This hint, located on top of The Playrooms' arcade, consists of various items that strongly suggest a connection to ARC-686. The items include:
* Three newspapers identical to the tutorial’s but seemingly peed on.
* Two empty bowls that appear intended for food and water.
* A pillow suggestive of a resting spot.
* A dog biscuit collectable, which features the text "Chew Nami" carved into it.
These items collectively imply the impending addition of ARC-686, as it is the only dog-like entity in the game. While the newspapers’ design matches those in the tutorial, this is speculated to be due to the developers reusing assets rather than an intentional lore connection. The newspapers are also speculated to include the ability to “mark” areas, such as by peeing, to create traps. This theory is inspired by the peed-on newspapers found in the secret area, which might hint at a gameplay mechanic similar to the glass shards in The Library rooms, where stepping on them alerts nearby entities.
It remains unclear whether this secret merely hints at ARC-686’s addition or if there will be more of these areas and that they will play a role in future gameplay, such as serving as a retreat for the entity. 
==== Biscuit Collectable ====
The dog biscuit has the branding "Chew Nami" seemingly carved into it, raising questions about its origin and purpose within the game. While some players speculate it could be tied to Chewtopia, the connection is unclear since Chewtopia does not traditionally associate with pet-related products. Alternatively, the branding could serve as a simple detail, adding realism to the item, or it might hint at a deeper lore connection yet to be revealed.
Players speculate that ARC-686 may collect or interact with these biscuits in-game, adding an element of realism to its behavior. This idea aligns with the biscuit being found uneaten, suggesting ARC-686 might not immediately consume such items but instead bring them back to its spot for later consumption.
===== Speculated Gameplay Mechanics =====
The dog biscuit is also thought to introduce gameplay mechanics involving ARC-686. Players theorize it would be used as a distraction:
* Drop-and-Run Mechanic: In this scenario, the player could drop the biscuit from their inventory during a chase. Upon detecting the biscuit, ARC-686 might stop to investigate and eat it, providing the player with a brief window to escape.
* Proximity Interaction Mechanic: If ARC-686 gets close enough to the player, it might become interactable. This would allow the player to give the biscuit directly to the entity from their inventory. The biscuit could then either calm ARC-686 completely, making him return to its calm state, or delay its pursuit by occupying it with eating.
* Taming Mechanic: A less likely theory is that the biscuit could serve as a way to tame the entity, making ARC-686 friendly or less aggressive toward the player. However, this seems improbable given ARC-686’s documented hostile and deceptive nature.
===== Potential Lore Implications =====
The biscuit's presence in the secret spot implies that, like a real dog, ARC-686 may have a sense of territory or a "home" within the game world. The biscuit may also reflect a more sinister aspect of ARC-686's predatory nature, suggesting it uses the treats to lure curious victims.
The biscuit’s introduction alongside other references to ARC-686 reinforces the idea that the entity is being actively teased by the developers, likely laying the groundwork for its future release.