'Arc Raiders' Becomes Steam’s Breakout Hit of 2025
Embark Studios' new title, Arc Raiders, achieved an impressive milestone with more than 250,000 concurrent players on Steam during its first 24 hours. The game peaked at 264,673 players on Valve’s platform, solidifying its place as one of the most successful extraction shooters of the year.
Rapid Rise to the Top
The third-person extraction shooter has quickly gained traction, now ranking among Steam’s most played games. It currently sits beside established titles such as Counter-Strike 2, PUBG, and Dota 2, and even surpasses free-to-play hits like Apex Legends and Marvel Rivals.
Strong Launch and Preparation
The success follows a promising Server Slam playtest that attracted over 189,000 participants, demonstrating strong player interest before launch. Embark Studios’ preparations appear to have paid off, ensuring stable servers and a smooth rollout at release.
Expanding Beyond PC
While Steam figures are impressive, total player numbers are likely greater, as Arc Raiders also released on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, where live data remains undisclosed. The midweek debut may further boost engagement through the approaching weekend.
Community Reception
"Arc Raiders currently holds a 'Very Positive' rating on Steam, with more than 25,000 player reviews, showing that the excitement goes beyond first-day curiosity."
Summary
Arc Raiders’ record-breaking launch cements Embark Studios as a new force in the extraction shooter genre, capturing both player enthusiasm and critical momentum within its first week.