Arc Raiders’ players count records could keep coming – here’s why

Unless you’ve yet to arrive in the Rust Belt, it will have been tough to avoid the success that Arc Raiders has crafted for itself. Incredible concurrent cross-platform player numbers have been reported, and rumours of a Game of the Year contender bubble up. However, I get the feeling that the gem of the extraction genre isn’t finished yet.

Does that feel sensible? For context, the title recently breezed past an incredible landmark for Steam and console players, which we’ll cover below. This makes me ask the question, “Can it go further?” It’s definitely not out of the question, and I’ll explain exactly why. Let’s combat roll into the details.

Arc Raiders sold 2.5 million copies in its first week, which was a huge success. Sure, Battlefield 6 sold 7 million, but Embark’s title was never expected to challenge a likely triple-A behemoth. And yet… it hasn’t exactly kept a low profile since its release. At the time of writing, the peak Arc Raiders player count record is 459,483.

That’s big. Yes, Battlefield 6’s peak player count is 656,067. But Embark Studios isn’t EA, and Arc Raiders is a somewhat unexpected title. The lack of mainstream familiarity with its format, especially compared to the decades-established FPS genre, hands Arc Raider a big disadvantage. And yet, as I type, 1,000 more players are playing it than BF6 (on Steam).

Cross-platform, the success has been notable, too. On November 10, the official Arc Raiders social platforms reported over 700,000 concurrent players across all platforms. That’s a lot of gamers, and beyond expectations.

From a fairly successful playtest and through a bumpy Arc Raiders’ release date to now has been a wild ride. Since the game only launched at the end of October, to be rated so highly so soon speaks to the total experience offered. As I pointed out in the Arc Raiders review, there’s a flexibility, an accessibility, and glorious variation to what Arc Raiders brings. 

Its blend of genres has welcomed survival savants, FPS fans, extraction enthusiasts, and many more. A mesh of Fallout, The Division, Gears of War, Tomb Raider, and others, Arc Raiders’ gameplay offers a lot for many gamers. Its originality in pulling such elements into a cohesive whole is fascinating.

Crucially, the game is also content-friendly. With organic social media doing a huge amount of work for Embark, Arc Raiders has hooked some of the biggest streamers. Names like Ninja, Shroud, TimTheTatMan, Myth, NickMercs, Summit1G. Those and many more have all been playing and largely enjoying Arc Raiders, with Shroud perhaps the loudest fan.

With word of mouth and immediate content about the title instantly lapping the globe, I can’t help but think there’s more to come. We’re approaching the holidays, and if staring at Steam Charts has taught me anything, games can explode from November to January. It’s partly that which makes me think Arc Raiders’ trajectory is primed for another boost. 

Black Friday is approaching quickly. More gamers, friends, and families will be on the hunt for value. I’m not saying Arc Raiders will be discounted, but I am saying that a $40 game stands a good chance of being picked up. Especially considering the hype and coverage it’s getting. As we’ve said previously, Embark calls Arc Raiders a 10-year game. Value? Check.

This seasonal factor doesn’t guarantee more gamers, but the Arc Raiders roadmap will help. The release of North Line and Cold Snap updates will follow recent additions of a new Night Raid, an electromagnetic storm, and a mystery bunker. With fresh content helping, I really think a 500,000+ Steam player count is within reach. One million players across platforms, maybe.

It’s possible, but it may not be immediate. Arc Raiders has hit some rarified air, though. On Monday, November 10, when its peak (Steam) players reached 384K, it actually had 30K more players than on the Sunday of its launch weekend. By comparison, BF6 had 656K on the Sunday of its launch weekend. Eight days later, on a Monday, it had 260K fewer.

Arc Raiders has been a whirlwind of a title in the, admittedly short, time it’s been available. It has delighted so many gamers and spread so quickly that it could be the standout success of 2025. Its player numbers to date are incredible, and to be rubbing shoulders regularly with PUBG and BF6 is nothing short of praiseworthy. 

However, this is a game that has defied expectations and captured imaginations. Not just another extraction shooter, Arc Raiders’ multiplayer and solo runs are varied, fun, and easily repeatable. It’s easy replayability that has certainly helped garner such success so far. And, if you’re asking me, I don’t think it’s finished surprising us, not by a long shot.