Arc Raiders has exploded onto the scene, surpassing 250,000 concurrent players on Steam within just a day of launch—peaking at 264,673 players on Valve’s platform. The third-person extraction shooter from Embark Studios has swiftly become one of the biggest releases in its genre, standing shoulder to shoulder with heavyweights like Counter-Strike 2, PUBG, and Dota 2.
Given its strong turnout during the recent Server Slam playtest, which recorded about 189,668 players, Embark Studios appeared ready for impact—and that preparation paid off. As of now, Arc Raiders ranks among the top games on Steam by concurrent player count, outpacing even popular free-to-play giants like Apex Legends and Marvel Rivals.
The true number of players is likely higher still, as the game also launched on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, where live player data isn’t publicly shared. And with the game debuting midweek, the count is expected to climb further as players head into the first weekend.
For a newly launched IP in a notoriously tough genre, these figures are nothing short of staggering, positioning the game among the biggest PC launches of 2025. Arc Raiders currently holds a “Very Positive” rating on Steam, with over 25,000 player reviews—a strong indicator that the enthusiasm isn’t merely first-day hype. That’s especially notable given the game’s $40 price tag, marking Embark’s move away from its initial free-to-play plan. For a paid title to achieve this scale in a genre long dominated by free-to-play models is a statement in itself.
Embark CEO Patrick Söderlund also addressed the unusual timing of the release, which lands between major franchises such as Battlefield 6 and the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, yet still drew substantial attention and engagement. “I know. The insanity,” said Söderlund to The Game Business. “People may look at that [Arc Raiders’ release date] and say, ‘What the hell are they doing?’ We have spent a lot of time looking at this from multiple angles and you know, for right or wrong, we believe that the game can launch there. This is the start of a long journey. It needs to start somewhere.”
Gameplay-wise, Arc Raiders blends PvPvE missions—teams of up to three (or solo) raiders venture topside into a robot-infested, post-apocalyptic world to loot, fight both environmental threats and other players, then extract to safety. Its high-stakes, loot-driven design—where players must battle through hostile environments, deadly AI machines, and unpredictable human opponents—has clearly struck a chord with players looking for a fresh take on the extraction formula.
For now, Arc Raiders stands as one of the year’s most impressive PC launches—combining sharp visuals, nerve-racking gameplay, and a surprisingly warm player response. Whether Embark Studios can maintain that momentum through consistent updates and content drops will determine if Arc Raiders becomes a one-hit wonder or a defining title for the extraction shooter genre.
Are you ready to take on the challenge? Play Arc Raiders on Steam or console—and share your thoughts with us on X (@indie_pendent). For more gaming stories, head to The Indiependent.
Words by Khushboo Malhotra
We’re trying to raise £200 a month to help cover our operational costs. This includes our ‘Writer of the Month’ awards, where we recognise the amazing work produced by our contributor team. If you’ve enjoyed reading our site, we’d really appreciate it if you could donate to The Indiependent. Whether you can give £1 or £10, you’d be making a huge difference to our small team.