ARC Raiders – the free-to-play PvPvE extraction shooter from The Finals developer Embark Studios – has resurfaced following an extended period of retooling, and is now launching as a premium title for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5 next year.
If you’re struggling to remember much about ARC Raiders, that might be because few details have been shared since its announcement back in 2021. It was originally set to release in 2022, but its launch has continued to slip since then – first into 2023 so Embark could focus on The Finals, and latterly while the studio continued to tinker with the title following a genre change.
But it turns out its switch from co-operative third-person shooter to PvPvE extraction shooter (its original form “wasn’t really fun”, Embark admitted during a recent press event) wasn’t to be ARC Raiders’ only notable change. It’s now been re-announced as a $40 USD premium title, jettisoning its previous free-to-play form, albeit while still remaining a live-service game.
Storywise, ARC Raiders catapults players into a “post-post-apocalyptic” future where humanity has fled underground to escape the ARC machines roaming the world’s surface. However, resources found up top remain in high demand, which is where players – cast as Raiders – come in. It’s up to you and your squad (Arc Raiders can be played solo or in teams of up to three) to explore the world above – visiting one of its multiple large-scale maps each run – and gather resources. Success requires fending off ARC machines and other squads of players to make it back to the underground colony of Speranza alive.
Failure results in the loss of all items gathered during a mission (with some exceptions), but success means players can trade their loot and valuables with Speranza’s locals. Speranza also serves as a hub where quests can be gathered, player’s chambers can be upgraded and expanded, and their characters can be evolved to suit their preferred playstyle.