Development on Arc Raiders has been underway since the inception of Embark Studios. Like many game projects, this one has gone through several iterations, and some twists and turns. None have been bigger than the decision to evolve the game from being co-op-only into the PvPvE Extraction Adventure game it is today.

This evolution has surfaced what the team consider the best version of the game, combining what players love about extraction shooters—high tension, multiple strategies, and mastery—with the kind of highly crafted, immersive world filled with mysteries that action-adventure gamers crave. It has been rewarding to see players who normally gravitate toward one genre over the other really appreciate Arc Raiders as a whole.

Arc Raiders is set on a lethal future Earth ravaged by a mysterious mechanized threat known as Arc, which ranges from menacing drones to huge, ominous giants. While most survivors stay safe below the surface in the safe confines of Speranza, Raiders are the chosen few who brave the surface in the hunt for valuable resources and loot to return to the colony.

Arc Raiders‘ Tech Test this past May revealed that players truly appreciate the high stakes each mission to the topside brings – and the choices they have to make once they reach the surface. Scavenging for long periods can reap awesome rewards, but the longer a group stays topside, the more likely they will not only come across Arc, but other Raiders as well. While the Arc may present a common foe that requires groups to band together, more often than not, they will be fighting each other for those valuable resources and loot.

These encounters present great choices for any group of Raiders. Hearing an Arc in the distance could lead to significant rewards but also alert other groups to a player’s presence. Hearing an intense firefight in the distance might lead a team to delay its extraction in the hope of mopping up and collecting the spoils. Sometimes, the best course of action after an especially gruelling run may be to lick your wounds and return to Speranza to heal up, gear up, and fight another day.

Another factor to take into consideration is the world itself. Vast and constantly changing, map conditions will shift how each run to the topside plays out, presenting different enemies, activities, mechanics, or challenges. For example, Night Raids will have greater rewards but reduced visibility and ramped-up Arc activity. These will require different tools and weapons—things that players will need to craft in the safety of their Workshop before returning to the field.

Arc Raiders is launching next month, with pre-orders open now, and a small taste of what lies ahead will be available with the Server Slam running October 17-19 on Xbox Series X|S. It’s a great opportunity for players to introduce themselves to the world of ARC Raiders and to help ensure a smooth launch on October 30, 2025 by pushing servers to their limit.