Embark Studios is about to release its new rustic sci-fi extraction shooter, **ARC Raiders**, and recently invited journalists—including myself—for a multiplayer session to preview the game. Playing a pre-release version on PC, I was thrilled to see that Embark Studios has crafted a compelling looting system where you balance risks and rewards, decide whether to engage other players or the environment, and strive to escape with as much loot as you can carry.
### Keep Your Eyes Up
ARC Raiders is set in a dystopian future where the robots humanity created have taken over the surface, forcing humans underground. The surface world is devastated and patrolled by deadly machines programmed to kill humans on sight. However, it’s also filled with valuable materials that those underground desperately need to survive.
Enter the Raiders: intrepid gatherers who venture to the surface to scavenge scraps and parts and bring them back to the underground. But beware—it’s every Raider for themselves. Sometimes, peppering a greedy stranger with bullets might net you better rewards than cooperation.
### Gameplay and Objectives
For this preview, I played both solo and group matches. Whatever your mode, ARC Raiders is a third-person shooter that drops you into a map filled with low-, medium-, and high-tier loot zones. The goal is to collect as much high-value loot as your backpack slots allow, then escape through an extraction point.
On your journey, you’ll face human foes and robot enemies. Other Raiders are also scattered throughout the map, each hunting for loot. The game features in-game proximity voice chat, letting you negotiate with other players—convince them to team up or betray them in a deadly ambush. Trust is a gamble in ARC Raiders.
### Intense Robot Threats
Survival hinges not only on player encounters but also on the formidable robots prowling the world. Small drones hover above, scanning the area; though minor, they will fire if provoked. Engaging loudly attracts larger threats—spider-like hoppers the size of automobiles can skitter and leap toward your position, while massive floating drones armed with rocket launchers pose a serious danger you’ll likely want to avoid.
### Team Play and Exploration
If you prefer not to rely on chance encounters in solo mode, grouping up is an option. In one trio session, coordinated team play allowed us to efficiently search several regions and amass valuable loot before extraction.
Maps in ARC Raiders are diverse, ranging from derelict towns and factory districts to wilderness regions. There are often multiple escape routes: the standard exit involves activating an elevator that takes about 10 seconds to open, during which it emits a loud noise that attracts enemies. Alternatively, some maps contain keys that unlock hatches, providing quieter escapes.
### Risk vs. Reward and Loot Mechanics
Exploring these varied environments and identifying the best risk-versus-reward zones is a major part of the fun.
Loot is the heart of the game. Each successful run earns experience points that level up your Raider and unlock a large skill tree, offering upgrades like increased health, faster looting, better weapon handling, and more.
Once back at the hub, you can turn in loot to complete quests, progress storylines, and improve your crafting and supply lines. Death in the field means losing everything you carried, but crafting can quickly get you back in the fight with new weapons and personal shield devices.
There’s even a “Free Gun Kit” option that equips you with random gear—gun, shield, and backpack—for your next run, preventing permanent loss of all equipment.
### High Stakes and Heart-Pounding Escapes
Weapons can become more powerful as you find higher-tier versions and attachments, but these are all vulnerable to loss if you die in the field. I experienced this firsthand: after gathering an impressive haul, I was ambushed mere moments before escaping via the elevator and lost everything. It was infuriating but also made my eventual successful escapes exponentially more thrilling—especially when I was the one setting ambushes instead.
### Final Impressions
ARC Raiders impressed me as a well-rounded extraction shooter. Embark Studios has clearly built a solid ecosystem that rewards a variety of playstyles. Whether you prefer a sly, sneaky approach that lets you slip away with decent loot or a bold, aggressive tactic pushing into high-risk zones to claim high rewards, there’s plenty to enjoy.
Good gunplay and richly varied maps make the third-person shooter gameplay engaging, but it’s the pulse-pounding thrill of a successful extraction with worthwhile loot that really makes ARC Raiders stand out.
If others share my excitement when ARC Raiders launches, Embark Studios might have a winner on their hands.
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*These impressions are based on an early PC build provided by the publisher. ARC Raiders is scheduled to release on October 30, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.*
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146564/arc-raiders-hands-on-multiplayer-preview