The recent closed Steam tests for ARC Raiders, held from April 30 to May 4, have created major buzz in the gaming community. Despite limited access, the game hit a peak of 21,515 concurrent players, far outperforming Bungie’s upcoming extraction shooter Marathon, which only saw 6,919.
🎮 ARC Raiders vs. Marathon: A One-Sided Fight (For Now)
While it’s worth noting that Marathon‘s access is currently more restricted, comparisons are inevitable, and ARC Raiders seems to be winning hearts. Streamers like Shroud and journalists such as Michael Hoglund (WindowsCentral) are already praising ARC Raiders as a more exciting and polished experience than its Bungie-made counterpart.
🛠️ A Promising Shooter from Seasoned Developers
Developed by Embark Studios, founded by former EA DICE veterans including Patrick Söderlund, ARC Raiders blends PvPvE gameplay with extraction shooter mechanics. Set in a post-apocalyptic future where ARC machines have decimated civilization, players scavenge on the surface while battling both AI threats and rival players looking to steal their loot.
⚙️ Key Gameplay Features:
- Loot-focused missions with high stakes
- Combat against both robotic enemies and real players
- Co-op and competitive survival elements
- Evacuation as the ultimate goal
🎯 Platforms and Launch
ARC Raiders is headed to PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and is expected to launch later this year.
With its strong community response, solid development team, and compelling gameplay loop, ARC Raiders might be the dark horse that leads the extraction shooter genre into its next evolution.
