Arc Raiders Guide#
Arc Raiders is a third-person PvPvE extraction shooter — Embark Studios officially calls it an “extraction adventure” — developed and published by the Stockholm studio behind THE FINALS. Founded in 2018 and now staffed by more than 300 people, Embark released the game on October 30, 2025 for PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, with GeForce NOW cloud gaming support on top.
The story is set in the near future: the surface has been overrun by mysterious mechanical enemies known as ARC, and humanity has retreated to the underground settlement of Speranza. You play a Raider, heading topside to scavenge resources and build a home — and nothing you scavenge is truly yours until you make it out alive.
The launch was strong. Steam concurrents broke 154,731 within three hours, and the game currently holds roughly 82% positive reviews (“Very Positive,” around 417,000 reviews by third-party counts). Embark is also running an official pure PvE matchmaking toggle test from October 13 to 20, 2026 — a long-awaited answer for players who only want to fight machines, not people.
This section covers 26 continuously maintained pages spanning beginner survival, extraction mechanics, point-by-point coverage of six maps, an ARC enemy bestiary, weapons and loadouts, blueprints and the crafting economy, squads and PvP, the PvE test, and endgame play.
Game Information#
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Game | Arc Raiders |
| Developer | Embark Studios |
| Publisher | Embark Studios |
| Release Date | October 30, 2025 |
| Platforms | PC (Steam / Epic Games Store), PS5, Xbox Series X|S, GeForce NOW |
| Genre | Third-person PvPvE extraction shooter |
| Price | Standard $39.99 / Deluxe $59.99 |
| Language Support | Simplified and Traditional Chinese UI and subtitles (13 languages total) |
| Achievements | 50 Steam achievements |
| Anti-Cheat | Kernel-level (Easy Anti-Cheat) |
| Cross-Platform | Cross-platform multiplayer supported |
| Reception | Very Positive on Steam (~82%) |
World and Gameplay#
The surface of Earth no longer belongs to humanity — ARC machines hold all of it, and the survivors have moved into the underground city of Speranza. As a Raider, you head topside to weave between machines and rival Raiders alike, hauling resources back below.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Extraction-only progress | Loot and blueprints only count if you extract; death means losing everything |
| Blended PvPvE | Player threats and ARC threats intertwine; 37% of players lean toward friendly cooperation |
| Blueprint-driven | Weapons, gear, and mods are all unlocked and crafted through blueprints — no gacha |
| Six maps | From beginner-friendly Dam Battlegrounds to endgame Stella Montis, difficulty ramps up |
| Event system | Hidden bunkers, Harvesters, and other events supply rare blueprints |
| Live service | Post-launch additions include Stella Montis, Riven Tides, and the PvE test |
The Six Maps#
| # | Map | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dam Battlegrounds | Beginner-friendly material farming |
| 2 | Buried City | Urban close-quarters and indoor PvP |
| 3 | Spaceport | Open terrain and long-range engagements |
| 4 | The Blue Gate | Final map of the base game, underground contests |
| 5 | Stella Montis | Post-launch endgame map — the Matriarch and exclusive blueprints |
| 6 | Riven Tides | Coastal ruins map added in April 2026 |
Editions and Pricing#
| Edition | Price | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $39.99 | Base game |
| Deluxe | $59.99 | Base game + Valente legendary outfit + Pathfinder backpack + Bedroll backpack attachment |
Every Deluxe difference is cosmetic and affects neither gameplay nor progression. Three cosmetic DLC packs followed the launch, released in December 2025, March 2026, and June 2026.
The Pure PvE Test#
Embark has confirmed a pure PvE matchmaking toggle test running October 13-20, 2026: players can switch between classic PvPvE and pure PvE, where player-to-player damage is disabled entirely. The test excludes four high-pressure conditions — night raids, hidden bunkers, locked gates, and frigates. PvE loot value is tuned down while PvPvE is tuned slightly up to compensate, and matchmaking rating is unaffected. Once the test ends, the toggle is removed and matchmaking returns to normal.
The decision is backed by official data: 51% of surveyed players want a dedicated PvE option, and more than 70% of friendly players want fewer hostile encounters. The community jokes that the game is really an “Extraction (Don’t) Shooter” — and this time, Embark listened.
Player Behavior at a Glance#
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Players who mostly play friendly | 37% (still growing since launch) |
| Hybrid players | 27% |
| Pure PvP players | 34% |
| Players wanting a dedicated PvE option | 51% |
| Steam concurrents three hours after launch | 154,731 |
The Core Loop at a Glance#
A round of Arc Raiders is four steps, and understanding the loop matters more than memorizing tricks:
- Gear up: ready your weapons, shields, and augments in Speranza, staking the loadout you could lose this run;
- Loot: head topside to dig out materials, blueprints, and gear, avoiding or fighting whatever you meet;
- Extract: reach an extraction point and get out — the only settlement that counts;
- Build: pour materials into the workshop and your homestead, converting them into power for the next run.
One iron rule runs through it all: blueprints and loot only count once you extract — death means losing everything. The moment you find a rare blueprint, plan your way out; the whole community treats that as discipline number one.
Beginner Roadmap#
- Day one: run the scavenge-extract loop on Dam Battlegrounds and build blueprint discipline;
- Week one: unlock the first three maps and push the questlines for the Rocketeer blueprint;
- Mid-game: test your anti-ARC loadout in the Blue Gate’s underground sections and stockpile endgame materials;
- Endgame: farm Stella Montis for blueprints and magnetic accelerators, and chase legendary weapons.
Where to start: new players should begin with the beginner survival guide; veterans after hard data should go straight to the blueprint sources and weapons pages; anyone tracking the October PvE test should read the pure PvE guide.
FAQ#
When was Arc Raiders released, and on which platforms?#
Arc Raiders launched on October 30, 2025 for PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, with GeForce NOW cloud gaming support.
How much does Arc Raiders cost?#
The Standard Edition is $39.99 and the Deluxe Edition is $59.99. Every Deluxe extra — the Valente legendary outfit, the Pathfinder backpack, and the Bedroll backpack attachment — is cosmetic, with no impact on gameplay or progression.
How many maps does Arc Raiders have?#
Six: Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, Spaceport, The Blue Gate, Stella Montis, and Riven Tides, the coastal ruins map added in April 2026. Difficulty scales from the beginner-friendly Dam Battlegrounds to endgame Stella Montis.
Do you lose your loot when you die?#
Yes. Looted materials and blueprints only count once you extract successfully; dying in a raid means losing everything you were carrying.
Is there a PvE-only mode?#
An official PvE matchmaking toggle test ran from October 13 to 20, 2026. In pure PvE, player-to-player damage is disabled; the test excluded night raids, hidden bunkers, locked gates, and frigates, tuned PvE loot value down and PvPvE slightly up, and did not affect matchmaking rating. The toggle was removed when the test ended.
How did Arc Raiders perform at launch?#
Steam concurrents passed 154,731 within three hours of launch, and the game sits at roughly 82% positive reviews (about 417,000 reviews, per third-party trackers).
Does Arc Raiders support cross-platform play?#
Yes, cross-platform multiplayer is supported. The game uses kernel-level Easy Anti-Cheat, offers 50 Steam achievements, and ships with UI and subtitles in 13 languages, including Simplified and Traditional Chinese.
How do blueprints and crafting work?#
Everything is blueprint-driven: weapons, gear, and mods are crafted from blueprints rather than pulled from any gacha pool, and rare blueprints come from events such as hidden bunkers and Harvesters.
Update Log#
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-02 | Section launched with 26 pages covering beginner basics, maps, enemies, weapons, blueprints, the PvE test, and endgame content |
Disclaimer#
This guide is compiled from the publicly released version of the game along with official and community sources. Game content may change with updates, so defer to in-game values and mechanics. Written by the NTGame editorial team, for reference only.
Related Rankings#
Best Shooter Games · Best Survival Crafting Games · Best Co-op Games
Full Guides#
In-depth sub-guides — beginner survival, extraction mechanics, inventory and loadouts, the full ARC enemy bestiary, weapon mods, blueprints and the crafting economy, squads and PvP, the pure PvE mode, point-by-point coverage of all six maps, and endgame builds — are available in Chinese on NTGame’s Arc Raiders section.