In just a day since its release, Arc Raiders has stormed the gaming scene with an exceptional debut, achieving a remarkable peak of 264,673 concurrent players on Steam. This positions it among the top extraction shooters on the platform, an impressive feat for developer Embark Studio.
A Meteoric Rise on Steam
The buzz around Arc Raiders was already in the air following its successful ‘Server Slam’ playtest, which hinted at a strong launch. Embark Studio anticipated a significant turnout, and their expectations were met as the game joined the ranks of Steam giants like Battlefield 6, Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, PUBG, and the popular Escape from Duckov in terms of 24-hour peaks.
Surprisingly, the game even surpassed the daily player numbers of other free-to-play titles such as Apex Legends and Marvel Rivals. With a ‘very positive’ user review rating from over 8,800 reviews, Arc Raiders is off to a strong start.
Beyond Steam: Expanding Horizons
While Steam numbers are impressive, they represent only part of the picture. Arc Raiders also launched on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S, platforms for which player statistics remain undisclosed by Sony and Microsoft. Considering its mid-week launch, the player count is expected to rise as the weekend approaches.
The gaming world is keen to see how Arc Raiders will compete when heavy hitters like Escape From Tarkov make their Steam debut next month. Additionally, the game’s design director noted the fortuitous timing of their playtest alongside Bungie’s Marathon, calling it an excellent opportunity for comparison.
Confident Amidst Competition
Despite releasing between major titles like Battlefield 6 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Embark Studio remains optimistic. CEO Patrick Soderlund expressed confidence in the game’s timing, acknowledging the challenge but emphasizing belief in their strategy: “This is the start of a long journey. It needs to start somewhere.”