ARC Raiders: review of the extraction shooter from The Finals creators
ARC Raiders is a cooperative extraction shooter from a third-person perspective by Embark Studios, the studio of Battlefield veterans and creators of The Finals. The game was released on October 30, 2025 for Windows, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S and instantly became a hit: peak Steam online surpassed The Finals, and servers barely handled the influx. In September 2026 the game continues to evolve: patch 1.26.0 arrived in April, and a major Frozen Trail update is planned for autumn. Below is our review: what it is, how to play and why it earned rave critic scores.
ARC Raiders at a glance
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Extraction shooter, third-person, PvPvE |
| Developer | Embark Studios |
| Release date | October 30, 2025 |
| Platforms | Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 5 |
| Modes | Solo, duo, trio |
| Model | Paid ($40), no free-to-play |
| Awards | Best Multiplayer Game at The Game Awards 2025, Online Game of the Year at D.I.C.E. Awards |
Setting and story
Earth has suffered a catastrophe: the sky was closed off by ARC machines — mysterious mechanical entities that turned the planet into ruins. Survivors united into a people's militia and live in the underground city of Sollerta, from where they send raiders to the surface for supplies, weapons and answers. Every outing is a risk: ARC machines hunt people, and other raiders can be more dangerous than robots.
Gameplay: how raids work
- Preparation. Choose gear from the arsenal: weapons, armor, consumables. Everything you take on a raid can be lost.
- Raid. Drop onto the surface: explore ruins, gather loot, fight ARC machines and other players.
- Evacuation. You must reach the extraction point in time — or lose everything you found. Loot goes to storage.
- Progression. In Sollerta you upgrade workshops, unlock blueprints and improve gear.
What makes ARC Raiders stand out
- Destructibility. Unreal Engine 5 lets you destroy cover and change the battlefield on the fly.
- Easy entry. Unlike Tarkov, the game is newcomer-friendly: clear objectives, generous loot, quick raids.
- Atmosphere. Sound, lighting and world design create a living post-apocalypse feel.
- Seasonal content. The Expedition system brings new maps, enemies and events every 8–10 weeks.
Content in 2026
| Update | What it added |
|---|---|
| Northline | New map Stella Montis, Matriarch and Shredder machines, legendary Aphelion rifle |
| Cold Snap | Snowfall modifier, Flickering Flames event, first Raider Deck |
| Patch 1.26.0 (April 2026) | Balance, exploit fixes, quality-of-life improvements |
| Frozen Trail (October 8, 2026) | Major autumn update, Subway collaboration |
Tips
- Start with solo raids on low difficulty: learn maps and loot spots without risk.
- Do not get greedy: better to exit with small loot than lose everything.
- Use proximity chat: negotiations with other players can save your life.
- Watch ARC patterns: every machine has weak points.
- Upgrade workshops in Sollerta: they unlock the best gear.
Frequently asked questions
Is ARC Raiders free? No, the game is paid (~$40), no free-to-play model.
Is Russian supported? Yes, interface and subtitles in Russian are available.
Can you play solo? Yes, there is a solo mode, but the game shines in duo or trio.
How is it different from Escape from Tarkov? More accessible difficulty, focus on cooperation and world destructibility.
Will it come to last-gen consoles? No, only Windows, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
How many copies sold? Over 14 million copies as of February 2026.
Last updated: September 23, 2026.