ARC Raiders

Gaming
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Former EA chief designer Patrick Söderlund’s Embark Studios initially planned for ARC Raiders to be their first title. The game is a co-op sci-fi shooter that sees the human resistance battling the overwhelming threats of the alien ARC. Originally slated for release back in 2022/2023, ARC Raiders is now looking set to finally be released later this year. It was temporarily back-burnered while the studio worked on The Finals instead. With that title now out and running in it’s third season, the studio has returned focus onto ARC Raiders, which it now hopes to have ready for release sometime this year.

ARC Raiders is a multiplayer extraction adventure, set in a lethal future earth, where little remains of the world we know today.

On the surface, threats are everywhere: ARC machines loom high in the skies and lurk in the shadowy corners of abandoned spaceports and run-down warehouses. You’ll encounter everything from roaming rollbots to multi-legged behemoths, and the choice will be yours — team up to defeat them, or risk combat with your fellow Raiders if you’d rather keep the spoils for yourself.

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While the line between friend and foe is razor thin on the surface, in Speranza, you’ll find refuge. The Traders there are ready to supply you with quests and gear. You can also craft equipment in your Raider Den, such as advanced weapon mods or unique gadgets. With every level gained on the surface, you can invest your experience into a branching skill tree.

Tech Test 2

Raider, it’s time to make your mark! On Wednesday we open the gates. Welcome to the Rust Belt.

Sign up for a chance to play: http://www.arcraiders.com

Our upcoming title, ARC Raiders—an extraction adventure set on a lethal future Earth—is in full development.
In a world ravaged by a mysterious mechanized threat known as ARC, you’ll step into the role of an ARC Raider, scavenging the dangerous surface for valuable loot and unraveling the secrets of the world and the machines ruling the surface.

Our second tech test runs from April 30 to May 4. Be among the first to experience ARC Raiders, share your insights, and help shape the game’s future as we prepare for launch.

The test will be available on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Sign Up at ARC Raiders or Embark ID: Playtest Sign in

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PC |Steam
Playtest access can also be requested on the Steam Store Page.

PC | Epic Games Store
https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/arc-raiders/

Xbox Series X|S

PlayStation 5

Official Site

ARC Raiders

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Me and some friends playing some Arc Raiders (Server Slam), this game is crazy, and quite fun. It does have its issues, but so far we are enjoying it.

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I only played 5 matches or so, but enjoyed it. I’m waiting to see if there’s a nerf going into the final version, so no pre-order, but I’m pretty sure I’ll get it after launch.

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I also really liked my few drops.

Here is an interesting topic that came out of my group of friends (one guy in particular): why third person is a bad choice…

  • if the game was PvE only, then third person is fine
  • if the game was PvEvP, then third person is less than ideal
  • if the game was PvP only, then third person is pretty bad
  • if the game was PvP only, and you risk your loadout every drop, and TTK is very low, then third person is a non starter

I understand that both parties in combat has the same advantage of a third person view, peaking around corners etc. but the main argument is regarding the first contact, setting traps, and being able to see when a character looks AWAY from you before you engage. In first person you have to risk when to jump out behind cover to engage.

And then the time to kill is so low that there is no chance to recover and return fire.

And then you lose all your investment.

So I can kind of relate why in an extraction shooter this might not be a great idea…

What are your thoughts?

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I detest 3rd person shooters, and now thanks you your post, I realise why. Also makes sense why I suffer the indignity of helldivers: it’s PvE!

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Short personal answer:
I am casual scum so I don’t care if I die and lose my gear, its going to happen anyways so I am just going play and enjoy the game my way not taking it too seriously.

Longer answer.
I understand the argument and having done it myself multiple times, being able to “see” a person without having to go out of cover is a massive advantage on sneaking up on people as well as setting up an ambush. So I understand why people would not get into third person PVP, especially in a game you can loose your hard earned gear.

But that’s where the other side of the argument comes into play, just as it can happen to you, you can inflict the same pain unto someone else, and you may end up with better gear than you already had, that part I guess is just the nature of extractions games, that tense feeling that around every corner someone could be waiting in ambush. That latter part at least, I feel is the same in both first person and third person. Also this game does have shields, and with higher level shields comes higher chances of surviving the ambush, which has also happened to me, and the guy turned the tables on me and won the fight.

So if this game was like Escape from Tarkov, I would not play it, but because this game is a more casual extraction game I am fine with the third person view.

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For the same reason it never bothered me in The Division - I never went to the Dark Zone’s PvP!

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It has forced PVP in it? Hard pass for me, PVP makes for toxic gameplay and I am not a fan of that.

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I don’t see it as forced unlike other titles in the genre.

It’s a game with PvP and PvE elements, the player can chose to engage in hostile activities or not. Yes, it’s an in-game element and mechanic but I don’t feel compelled to do so.

One thing is certain is that solo and group matchmaking is isolated so a solo player will never get instanced with a group of individuals. I feel that there is more hostile engagements with group play than solo, but that’s my opinion. Yes, there is still a likelihood of experiencing hostile engagements as a solo player, I just feel that they are less likely to happen, but have no doubt that it will still happen.

Edit: Granted, I’ve been for that reason I have never had much interest in the extraction shooter genre and this will be my first run into it. Their AI machine-learned models intrigue me.

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On the contrary, PvE is hard. Really hard. The game actively encourages you to team up with others, rather than engage in PvP. I think watch a couple of gameplay videos to get a feel for how comfortable you’d be with it. I think the balance is quite good, specifically for encouraging teamwork.

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I found this the most informative video, and it gives a very good indication of the gameplay experience.

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I ventured topside a few times last night and I must say, the sense of tension is palpable from the get go, even in the “tutorial” or prologue section.

One thing is certain, the ARC do NOT mess around. If anyone played the previous round of testing or beta would be familiar, I did not, so a lot of this is brand new to me and I am still feeling my way around.

Edit: Forgot to mentioned that the world and sound design is some of the best I have experienced in gaming. But that is very subjective, I get that, and I like to experience games in general. Especially when games do something different.

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I honeslty do not see the appeal of this game at all. Looks like every other cookie cutter extraction game to me. Glad you guys are enjoying it though!

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I get that - the video’s I watched had the same impact on me. But playing the server slam completely changed my mind. The devs really took care to ensure each decision is balanced, and that this game is waaaaay less sweaty than the Tarkov’s and Arena’s, while maintaining an unreal sense of tension throughout. Like @Beo said, the sound design is brilliant.

Not saying it’s going to be everyone’s cup of cake, but if you like extract shooters in general, I’d suggest you try it at least if you get an opportunity.

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Yeah thats probably why it looks similar to me. I don’t like the genre at all. But people have been saying that this game is like the saviour of the genre and the ultimate extraction game to play, but it looks exactly the same.

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Yeah, if you don’t like extraction shooters, defs not for you.

That core gameplay loop is still go in with kit, get loot, either get killed and lose everything or extract and keep, and then rinse and repeat.

I think Embark implemented a huge number of systems to provide depth to those of us that love the genre and are going to sink 1000 hours in, but also kept it accessible for those of use that only want to play the odd round every two months.

This game doesn’t reinvent much, but rather have the right amount of the right gameplay components to get the right balance for a fun extraction shooter that will last a while.

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It really does remind me of The Division in the way it plays, especially when in the dark zone. And the ARC is like bosses you encounter in the dark zone, except every enemy is like a boss. They are tough!

I was so super keen on this game like 2 years ago when it was announced as free to play, and the server slam NEARLY convinced me. But I will hold off until sale and then nobody will be playing it anymore. Kind of like Helldivers 2 - I missed the boat…

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Comparing it to Division dark zone is actually intriguing. I do love Division but admittely the dark zone is not something I really engaged with. I prefer the PvP loot without risk of losing it variety of loot and shoot.

But my interest has gone from zero to more than zero. :stuck_out_tongue:

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I may have limited experience to make an accurate connection with The Division. I only played the server slam and I got the Division vibes, mainly in the way it plays, controls, shoots etc. Mechanics might be more different to what I remember :wink: