ARC Raiders Conquers Steam — Paid Version Shows Better Results Than the Free One

ARC Raiders has stormed the Steam charts. The new shooter from Embark Studios launched on PS5, Xbox Series and PC, drawing an online audience numbering in the hundreds of thousands.

The story unfolds in a future where Earth has been overrun by deadly ARC machines. Humanity shelters beneath the surface, while bold raiders climb back above to scavenge resources and confront the mechanical adversaries.

The game attracted attention during testing, but its full release exceeded expectations. Player counts passed 100,000 soon after launch and climbed to 264,000 — outperforming the numbers seen in the free trials. ARC Raiders quickly became one of Steam’s most popular new releases of the week.

Notably, the release arrived at a crowded moment — coming after Battlefield 6 and its free RedSec mode and on the eve of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Yet despite stiff competition, Embark Studios demonstrated that a mix of survival elements, tactical depth and fast-paced firefights in a futuristic setting can attract a massive player base.

Source: iXBT.games