To be honest, I hadn’t followed Embark Studios or its attempt to create Arc Raiders, the PvPvE extraction shooter that has taken both the internet and the gaming community by storm. But prior to the game’s release, I decided to give the Arc Raiders Server Slam a try, and while I wasn’t completely on board with what Embark was trying to do, I could appreciate it for what it was. Yet ever since the game launched just last week, and with me sitting at around 30 hours as I type this up, it’s safe to say I’ve caught whatever it is that everyone else has been feeling since stepping into this world.
When Arc Raiders launched, I don’t think anyone expected it to blow up the way it did. What started as a curious experiment from the studio that was comprised of former EA and DICE Veterans, quickly became the kind of game everyone was talking about. A mix of survival, exploration, PVE, and tense PVP moments, it’s the type of experience that keeps you saying, “just one more run.” It’s rough in places, sure, but there’s something about it that feels honest and alive.
Now, I’ve never been big on this sort of PVP in games like this. Put me in a match of Call of Duty or any other deathmatch-style game and I’ll gladly go on a spree without a shred of sympathy. But Arc Raiders is different. Here, everyone is just trying to survive. You’re sent on missions, scavenging for supplies, dodging the Arcs, those massive mechanical forces that will kill you on sight, while also avoiding other players. Balancing both at once is chaotic, unpredictable, and sometimes even thrilling.
The game truly comes to life when you run into another player out in the field. You’re scavenging quietly one moment, then suddenly you see someone, or they see you, and your brain floods with decisions. Do you ignore them? Do you shadow them? Do you call out “I’m friendly!” and hope they believe you? Or do you shoot first and ask questions later? Every encounter turns into a moral coin flip, and I’ve learned the hard way that trusting too easily rarely ends well. Still, I can’t help it. I tend to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, even when it gets me killed. I’ll get over that eventually, especially if I want to progress further into the game. But not so much that I’ll be filling out an application for the Laughing Coffin guild. But I’ll make an exception to that if I could put a bullet into every person who thinks that hiding and taking potshots at players is fun.
But at the same time, there have been just as many moments where people on the other end chose to let me be. Some even jumped in when I was pinned down by Arcs or hopped on proximity chat to about ask where they can find some specific crafting materials, or just to talk about how amazing the game is. I even had one player drop some gear for me after I mentioned I was struggling to find Fireball Burners to level up my refining shop. That kind of generosity was completely unexpected. It reminded me that even in a post-apocalyptic world, there’s still room for kindness.
It really is like a box of chocolates, to steal a familiar phrase, and you never know what you’re going to get. And I suppose that’s exactly what makes the game work.
What Arc Raiders nails isn’t just combat or atmosphere, it’s humanity. The tension of not knowing what someone will do, the relief of unexpected cooperation, or the sting of betrayal. Every encounter tells a story, and no two are ever the same. It’s a reminder that no matter how good the AI is, no machine can recreate the uncertainty that comes from another human being with their own goals, fears, and impulses.
After 30 hours in this strange world, I’ve been betrayed, ambushed, and rescued more times than I can count. I’ve lost valuable gear because I trusted the wrong person, and I’ve made temporary allies out of complete strangers. That constant push and pull between hope and paranoia is what keeps me coming back.
Maybe that’s what Embark Studios wanted all along, not just another shooter or survival game, but something more human. A mirror that reflects who you are when everything’s on the line, and the world isn’t quite sure whether it wants to help you or kill you.
Arc Raiders is currently available for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC.
