ARC Raiders Is Back: The New €40 Sci-Fi Shooter That’s Splitting the Community in Half
Overview of ARC Raiders’ return as a €40 sci-fi extraction shooter, highlighting its visuals, tense gameplay, deep progression and community debate.
ARC Raiders is back in the spotlight — and this time, it's not just the gameplay everyone is talking about. After years of being marketed as a free-to-play title, Embark Studios shocked fans by launching the game at €40. The reaction? A mix of hype, confusion, and a whole lot of heated discussion.
ARC Raiders is at the peak of its hype, soaring past 400,000 players on Steam alone (high peak 481.966).
A Stunning Sci-Fi World That Hooks You Instantly
Welcome to Speranza, a planet ravaged by the ARC: massive, hostile machines patrolling the world like metallic predators. The visual identity is striking and immediately memorable:
- retro-industrial sci-fi
- colossal robots
- post-apocalyptic landscapes
- and a cinematic art direction with clear ’80s influences
It’s the kind of world that grabs your attention the moment you see it.
From Promised Free-to-Play to a €40 Premium Shooter
Here’s where the controversy kicks in. ARC Raiders has fully abandoned its original free-to-play plans and launched as a premium title. A bold move — especially for a game built around the extraction shooter formula, a genre typically dominated by free-to-play monetization.
So what do players get for €40? A fast-paced, adrenaline-charged shooter built on:
- high-risk resource runs
- intense PvE fights against ARC machines
- unpredictable PvP encounters with other players
- extraction moments designed to spike your heartbeat
Deep Progression, Customizable Weapons, and Real Tension
One of the game’s strengths lies in its progression system:
- weapon mods
- gadgets
- perks and abilities
- builds that change how you play
Every run feels like a gamble: extract and you profit, fail and you lose everything. It’s a loop that creates unforgettable moments — but also raises the question: is this gameplay loop worth a €40 entry fee?
Co-op Gameplay at Its Best
While you can play solo, ARC Raiders truly shines in a team. Coordination, complementary roles, gadget synergy, and quick decision-making are what separate a clean extraction from a total disaster.
So, Is ARC Raiders Worth €40?
That depends on what you’re looking for. ARC Raiders offers a rich sci-fi world, solid shooting, and an atmospheric, tension-driven experience rarely seen in the genre.
But the shift from free-to-play to premium pricing will undoubtedly remain a point of debate.
One thing is certain: ARC Raiders won’t go unnoticed.