Arc Raiders was announced in 2021 as a free-to-play co-op third-person shooter, and has been delayed multiple times since. This is partly because Embark Studios' other game in development, The Finals, progressed faster than expected and stole its momentum. It's also because it was reimagined at one point as a PvPvE extraction shooter.
Now it's back, with a target release next year, and it's been revamped a bit more: it's no longer free.
In Arc Raiders – or ARC Raiders, if I'm feeling generous – you play as a survivor in an underground colony. ARCs are deadly machines that rule the surface. As a raider, you go on expeditions to collect supplies at the behest of traders and quest-givers in your homeland, working with or against other players to return home with the goods.
It’s now a “$40 premium title,” according to Embark. “There are many reasons for this change, and they all boil down to our belief that a premium business model is better suited to the type of game we’re making. A premium model allows us to create a more focused, balanced, and engaging action-survival experience.”
Embark also plans to launch some beta tests in the near future, starting with a technical test between October 24 and 27. You can sign up for it now via its Steam page.
I'm glad the free-to-play thing is gone. I really like The Finals, but its business model makes it a perilous proposition given the inevitably dwindling player base.
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