Arc Raiders is no longer free-to-play, but can it make a splash anyway?
I saw a behind-closed-doors demo of Arc Raiders at Gamescom 2024. Here's what I learned about the extraction shooter.
Lloyd Coombes
30th Aug 2024 14:17
Images via Embark Studios
The extraction shooter genre, like the Battle Royale one before it, is getting a little cramped. While many rightly point at Escape From Tarkov as one of the more popular entries, we've seen Gray Zone Warfare, Dark and Darker, and, well Helldivers 2 in recent months.
It's such a tough genre to get into and remain relevant in that even Battlefield and Call of Duty couldn't make it stick. And, for everything I like about Arc Raiders from Embark Studios, I fear it's not quite doing enough to stand out.
Much has changed
At last year's Game Awards in December 2023, Arc Raiders was revealed as a free-to-play PvE title - but neither of those descriptors is true anymore.
Re-emerging at Gamescom 2024, the game is now a PvPvE shooter with a premium price tag of $40.
I got to see Arc Raiders behind closed doors at the event, and while I couldn't go hands-on, I certainly appreciate the subtle wrinkles it adds to a well-trodden format. For one, the titular Raiders emerge from underground cities to grab resources, meaning extraction tends to be downward, not hopping on a shuttle or helicopter.
That sounds like a small change but Embark is having some fun with new extraction methods, like subterranean trains and elevators. Once you're in the home base of Speranza, you'll be able to customise your living quarters - but the space itself will be navigated via menus as opposed to in-engine roaming.
Here you'll pick up quests, before heading topside to raid for resources while navigating enemies, hazards, traps and, thanks to the recent changes, other players.
An Arc Reminder
What struck me from the gameplay footage is just how approachable Arc Raiders looks for those who don't want to spend their sessions digging through a digital backpack.
Its combat looks slick and exciting, with a third-person perspective that serves the dual purpose of keeping it nicely separate from its stablemate The Finals and allowing you to see your Raider's hard-earned gear.
My only issue is that I'm not sure if it'll be enough to justify dropping $40 on a title. I hate the notion that all games should have a free-to-play entry point, but for a shooter such as this that will need to garner a community in a competitive field very quickly, the asking price for you and two friends to chip in together is considerable.
It's perhaps fitting that the key art you see at the top of this page could, at a glance, be from Concord - a game whose struggles have been laid bare since launching last week. That launched with a slightly lower price tag, with Sony first-party backing, but just can't seem to capture the gaming zeitgeist.
Of course, they're different games, and I must admit that Arc Raiders looks like the more casual extraction shooter I always wanted Call of Duty's DMZ to be, but it definitely has its work cut out for it.
Thankfully, players can check it out as soon as October, with a public test allowing for the first hands-on time. I'm hopeful it'll be something that grabs me - but I have my doubts.
Final Thoughts
Arc Raiders may look a little on the generic side, and that price tag will no doubt be a barrier to entry for some, but Embark's pedigree and the potential for a polished extraction shooter experience may make it worth jumping into anyway.
Arc Raiders is slated for a 2025 release.
About The Author
Lloyd Coombes
Lloyd is GGRecon's Editor-in-Chief, having previously worked at Dexerto and Gfinity, and occasionally appears in The Daily Star newspaper. A big fan of loot-based games including Destiny 2 and Diablo 4, when he's not working you'll find him at the gym or trying to play Magic The Gathering.
