ARC Raiders: Embark Studios’ New PvPvE Survival Game – What You Need to Know

The gaming world is buzzing with excitement over ARC Raiders, a highly anticipated third-person survival PvPvE shooter from Embark Studios, the same developers behind the popular multiplayer shooter The Finals. First revealed in 2021, the game has gone through various development stages, with a notable shift in gameplay direction. Now, with a planned release in 2025, ARC Raiders is generating a lot of hype as it promises to deliver a unique survival experience in a futuristic, robot-infested world. Here’s everything we know so far about the game, from its development and gameplay to its release details.

Who’s Behind ARC Raiders?

Embark Studios is formed by industry veterans, including former Battlefield developers, who are known for crafting fast-paced, action-packed multiplayer games. Their previous title, The Finals, was praised for its innovative mechanics, destructible environments, and commitment to community-driven updates.

With ARC Raiders, Embark is stepping into the PvPvE survival genre—a significant shift from their earlier work on arena shooters. The studio has consistently shown a dedication to creating player-driven experiences, with quick responses to community feedback and a focus on game balance. This track record makes ARC Raiders one of the most promising upcoming titles in its genre.

What is ARC Raiders?

ARC Raiders is a third-person survival PvPvE (Player vs Player vs Environment) game set in a dystopian future, a few hundred years ahead of our time. In this world, humans are locked in a fight for survival against a race of mechanized enemies known as the “ARC.” Players take on the role of “Raiders,” human survivors who must scavenge for resources, complete objectives, and battle both AI-controlled ARC robots and other players.

While the game was originally envisioned as a co-op shooter, Embark Studios added PvP elements later in development, transforming it into a survival game with high stakes. Players must navigate a hostile world filled with AI enemies and other human Raiders, with a focus on risk and reward. Survival is not guaranteed, and players face the constant threat of losing their hard-earned loot if they don’t extract safely.

Key Features of ARC Raiders

• PvPvE Gameplay: One of the defining elements of ARC Raiders is the integration of both PvE and PvP elements. Players must survive against AI-controlled enemies (ARC robots) while being wary of other players who can either cooperate or engage in combat.
• Looting and Progression: The game encourages scavenging and looting in a manner similar to survival games like DayZ. Players can collect gear, upgrade their equipment, and complete quests to advance. The game also has a progression system, allowing players to build up their characters (referred to as “Raiders”) even if they lose their gear upon death.
• Survival with Risk and Reward: In ARC Raiders, survival is a balance between risk and reward. If a player dies, they may lose all the gear they’ve accumulated, adding tension to every decision. Extraction mechanics allow players to retreat to a safe hub with their loot, but failure to do so can result in significant losses.
• Central Hub for Progression: Similar to games like Destiny, ARC Raiders features a central hub where players can return after missions. In this hub, players can upgrade their characters, interact with vendors, and manage their loot. This adds an element of long-term progression, even if players lose gear during expeditions.
• Post-Apocalyptic, Robot-Infested World: The setting of ARC Raiders is a future Earth where robotic enemies known as ARC have taken over. The environment is described as gritty and somewhat bleak, leaning into a darker, suspenseful atmosphere that differentiates it from the more colorful or military-focused extraction games.

What Makes ARC Raiders Stand Out?

What sets ARC Raiders apart from other games in the genre is its emphasis on balance and player progression. Embark Studios aims to avoid the extremes seen in other extraction shooters, where the gameplay can either feel too punishing or too casual. Instead, they are focused on creating an experience that finds the sweet spot between risk and reward, making each encounter both tense and rewarding.

Another standout feature is the game’s world-building. Set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by robotic enemies, ARC Raiders offers a unique blend of survival, looting, and combat, with an aesthetic that is grittier and more grounded than many other titles in the PvPvE genre. The game’s narrative of survival, resistance, and hope adds depth to the gameplay experience.

Additionally, Embark Studios’ commitment to evolving the game based on community feedback—something they successfully implemented in The Finals—means that ARC Raiders is likely to receive ongoing updates, balancing tweaks, and new content as the game grows.

How Does It Compare to Other PvPvE Games?

The PvPvE genre is a challenging one, with games like Escape from Tarkov and DMZ setting high expectations for high-stakes, tense gameplay. While Escape from Tarkov is known for its punishing difficulty and intense risk of losing everything upon death, ARC Raiders seeks to balance this experience with a more accessible progression system. Even if players die, they will still make progress through quests and upgrades, which makes the game less punishing for newcomers while maintaining the tension of losing valuable gear.

In comparison to games like DayZ, ARC Raiders offers a more structured progression system, where players can improve their Raiders and upgrade their gear and abilities between missions. This focus on long-term progression helps differentiate it from more traditional extraction shooters, which often focus solely on accumulating loot.

The Future of ARC Raiders

The future of ARC Raiders looks promising, though much remains to be revealed. With the public playtest providing the first opportunity for players to experience the game, there are high expectations for Embark Studios to deliver a compelling survival game that balances both PvE and PvP elements. The shift to a premium model and Embark’s commitment to constant updates and community feedback suggest that ARC Raiders could be a standout in the genre.

One interesting note is that, unlike many PvPvE games, ARC Raiders will not be free-to-play. This decision could help mitigate issues with cheaters and ensure that the player base is more committed, potentially creating a more serious and competitive environment.

ARC Raiders Release Date, Platforms, and Pricing

• Release Date: ARC Raiders is currently slated for release in 2025. While no specific date has been confirmed, the game has been reintroduced into public consciousness through the Gamescom 2024 teaser. A public playtest is scheduled for October 24-27, 2023, exclusively for PC players, with future console playtests expected.
• Platforms: The game will be available on PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. However, it will not be released on last-generation consoles like the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One.
• Pricing: Unlike Embark Studios’ previous title, The Finals, which was free-to-play, ARC Raiders will be a premium title, with an estimated price of $40. This shift to a paid model allows the developers to focus on delivering a balanced, engaging experience without relying on microtransactions or pay-to-win mechanics.

Trailers and Visuals

Several trailers have been released since the game was first announced in 2021. The reveal trailer and subsequent gameplay teasers have showcased the game’s stunning visual design, detailed environments, and the dystopian world where the action takes place.

• Gamescom 2024 Teaser: The most recent trailer from Gamescom 2024 reintroduced the game to the public, offering a look at its survival mechanics, combat, and world design. The teaser hinted at a narrative focused on resistance and survival, with a blend of PvPvE elements in a bleak, post-apocalyptic setting.

System Requirements

As of now, ARC Raiders’ system requirements for PC have not been officially announced. However, using The Finals as a reference point, players can expect the game to demand relatively high specs for optimal performance, especially given the detailed environments and intense PvPvE action.

Conclusion

It’s bold, especially for Embark Studios, to leap into the PvPvE genre. ARC Raiders promises something new within a genre that has often found it difficult to get its footing with looting, survival, and player versus player combat all together in one cohesive experience. While most PvPvE games have tried and failed, ARC Raiders is well suited to thrive based on engaging mechanics, thoughtful design, and the head of a team of developers who are attuned to their community.

If it’s survival games, extraction shooters, or simply something new and exciting you’re on the lookout for, then do stay out for ARC Raiders. With just a few more days before its public playtest we’ll see if this game will reach its potential.