Embark Studios just announced the release date for ARC Raiders at Summer Games Fest, and the wait won't be so bad. This shouldn't be too surprising, as the game has already run a couple of Tech Tests for playtesters. If you enjoy multiplayer extraction games, then you might want to check out ARC Raiders' unique world when it is officially released.

I was already familiar with Embark Studios because difficult AI enemies. There's a lot to look forward to about the game, so luckily it will be out in just a few months.

When ARC Raiders Releases

ARC Raiders Will Be Released On October 30, 2025

In a trailer revealed yesterday at Summer Game Fest that ARC Raiders will be released on October 30, 2025. While this is a bit of a bummer for players who were hoping to spend their summer inside, battling robots in a dystopian future, it is at least not that long of a wait. If you're looking to try the game out early, it's also worth keeping your eyes on ARC Raiders' website and social media pages. It's entirely possible the game will have another playtest before its official release.

As of now, we don't have an exact time that the game will go live, but this will likely get announced closer to the actual release date. Although it has become increasingly more popular for games to include, there is also no word on any sort of early access. However, there is going to be at least one more playtest from October 24 to 27, which you can still sign up for on the game's Steam page. This is similar to early access, though I'm guessing any progress from the test won't carry over.

ARC Raiders Platforms

ARC Raiders Is On Next Gen Platforms And PC

ARC Raiders will be released for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. On PC, you can get the game through Steam, the Epic Games Store, or stream it through NVIDIA GeForce Now. As of now, there's no word on a physical release for the game, so it seems it will only be available in digital form on consoles. This isn't too surprising for a multiplayer game like this, since it won't be playable anyway if the servers go down at some point. Embark Studios' previous game also didn't get a physical release, so I'm not expecting one here.

ARC Raiders is exclusively a multiplayer experience, so you will need the ability to play online with other players. If you're getting a console version of the game, this means subscribing to at least the lower tiers of Game or PlayStation Plus that allow for online play. The game also features crossplay, so if you are hoping to play with a group, you don't have to worry about all getting the same version of ARC Raiders.

ARC Raiders Price, Pre-Order Dates & Information

ARC Raiders Will Reportedly Cost $40

According to an announcement by ARC Raiders' executive producer, Aleksander Gröndal, back in 2024 on Steam, the game will cost $40. There are no sales listings right now, so I'm not sure if this price is subject to change since the initial announcement, but I wouldn't expect it to be much more. If anything, we may see it stay at $40 for the base game, with maybe a edition costing a bit more for some perks. So far, there is no official word one way or the other.

Right now, there are no pre-order listings for ARC Raiders. The closest thing you can do is wishlist it on any of the stores where it's available. This will at least notify you when the game goes up for either sale or pre-order. With no pre-orders officially announced, there is also no word on whether or not there will be any sort of pre-order bonus for the game.

ARC Raiders Gameplay & Story Details

ARC Raiders Is A Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Extraction Game

The premise of ARC Raiders is that you are a scavenger in a post-apocalyptic world where machines known as ARC have dominated the surface of the world. Humans have been driven into hidden underground settlements, but they still have to go to the surface to scavenge for goods. ARC Raiders puts you in the role of one of these scavengers who is hunting for precious materials that you can use to help build your settlement or trade for other goods. However, the ARC aren't the only threats, as you'll also have to look out for competing raiders.

As far as gameplay goes, you will be tasked with scouting the map for loot, either on your own or in a group of up to three. You're competing against the other players to gather loot, and can fight one another if need be. The map also has deadly ARC NPC enemies that you'll need to avoid or defeat in order to make it out alive. During ARC Raiders' previous Tech Tests, players hve reported that these AI enemies can be just as, if not more, deadly than the other players.

Although ARC Raiders is far from the first game of its kind, its unique world makes it feel interesting. It feels a bit like a cross between The Matrix and STALKER, which are both interesting and atmospheric worlds. My hope is that ARC Raiders delivers an equally interesting setting that can help add some extra flair to the extraction game genre.

I've seen players online hoping that ARC Raiders would come out a bit earlier, given the large amount of positive from the game's second playtest. While we know now that the game is still a few months out, I don't mind that Embark is taking the time to ensure the game launches smoothly. As an online multiplayer game, ARC Raiders will live or die based on how many players stick around after launch, so it makes sense that the developers want to take their time and make sure everything is polished.

Source: ARC Raiders/YouTube, Steam