Would-be Marathon rival ARC Raiders is already succeeding big on Steam

While Bungie works away on Marathon, The Finals developer Embark Studios is crafting its own extraction shooter, ARC Raiders. And, going by the response to the recent five-day playtest, it’s off to a strong start.

ARC Raiders’ second playtest has just come to a close, giving players a chance to get a taste of this retro-futuristic multiplayer game. Steam alone saw 21,515 players arm up for the fight, taking on the titular ARC machines.

The playtest has been well received, with some grumbling that it was over too soon. Praise has been levelled at the in-game economy, the way it enables co-operation and much more. ARC Raiders’ colorful aesthetic, which sits somewhere between Fallout and Marathon, is particularly cool.

“I think I can safely say for everyone that this weekend is some of the most fun I’ve had gaming for years,” one playtester said on Reddit. “This is the first time I’ve played a Tech Test/Beta/Demo where the game has completely consumed my mind,” added another.

There were some complaints about cheaters which Embark Studios will no doubt be looking to address. Some players also weren’t entirely on board with ARC Raiders’ third person perspective, but it’s not done Marvel Rivals any harm.

The playtest was invite only and at its peak, there were more people playing ARC Raiders than were playing The Finals, Embark Studios’ other game. According to Embark’s stats, playtesters tackled a massive four million rounds of ARC Raiders.

ARC Raiders doesn’t have a concrete release date but it’s pencilled in for a 2025 release date. I’d expect Embark Studios to put on more playtests in the future, including at least one completely open playtest, so keep your eyes open. Just make sure your PC is up to ARC Raiders’ minimum requirements.

If teamwork is your thing, we’ve rounded up the best co-op games or if you’re looking for more of a solo experience, we’ve got the best action-adventure games.

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