The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
ARC Raiders is worth playing if you enjoy extraction games where every trip for loot can end in a successful escape, a fight with a machine, or a fight with another player. Its standard format is PvPvE: you work against mechanized ARC enemies while other Raiders can interfere. The game is a weaker fit if you want a permanently solo, low-risk PvE adventure. Embark is testing a cooperative PvE matchmaking option from October 13 through October 20, 2026, but that window should be treated as temporary unless a newer official announcement extends it.
What ARC Raiders is actually offering
ARC Raiders is a multiplayer extraction adventure set on a future Earth threatened by mechanized ARC forces. The central promise is not simply shooting enemies and collecting rewards. You enter a dangerous session, gather useful loot, complete objectives, and try to leave with what you found. The tension comes from having something to lose before your extraction succeeds.
The threat has two layers. ARC machines provide the PvE danger, while other human-controlled Raiders create the PvP danger. A quiet route through a machine encounter can become a contest over the same resources, and a player who has avoided combat can still be vulnerable while carrying valuable items. That combination is the reason to choose ARC Raiders over a conventional cooperative shooter—and also the main reason some players will dislike it.
Embark’s official game information lists PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and GeForce NOW. Availability can differ by storefront and region, so confirm the current listing and price on your platform before buying.
#1 Best Overall
How the gameplay loop works
Enter with a goal
A useful session starts with a reason to deploy. The official Steam description emphasizes quests, and those quests are the clearest structure for progression. A goal might be to collect a particular material, finish an objective, or return with enough resources to support your next run. Entering without a plan can still produce memorable encounters, but it makes the risk-and-reward decision harder to judge.
Manage two kinds of danger
ARC enemies are the predictable part of the threat: their presence defines the hostile environment and forces you to think about positioning, timing, and whether a fight is worth the cost. Other Raiders are less predictable. They may be pursuing the same objective, passing through the area, or waiting for an opportunity to take the rewards you are carrying. The standard mode therefore asks you to read both the environment and the likely intentions of nearby players.
Decide when to leave
Extraction games turn departure into a decision rather than an automatic end-of-level screen. More time can mean more loot or progress, but it also gives machines and players more chances to find you. No current official rules establish the exact extraction, reset, and expedition rules, so do not assume a particular timer, inventory-loss rule, or seasonal reset until you verify it in the current game client.
Convert a successful run into progression
A successful return matters because quests award gear, crafting materials, and experience points. Those rewards level your Raider and help unlock skill points. In other words, the loop links moment-to-moment survival to a longer-term build: you are not only trying to survive this session, you are gathering the resources and experience needed to make future sessions more capable.
Is ARC Raiders PvE or PvP?
The normal experience is PvPvE. You face ARC machines and other players in the same overall activity. Calling it “PvE with optional PvP” would be misleading for the standard format, because the possibility of another Raider is part of the risk that shapes how you move, what you carry, and when you extract.
Rank #2
- MLB The Show 26 Full Game on PlayStation 5
- Includes 5 The Show Packs
- NEW Road to Cooperstown & Expanded Amateur Years Career
- Build your ultimate fantasy team with a new Red Diamond rarity tier and World Baseball Classic player cards featuring elite game-changing players
- NEW Revamped Front Office Experience Play the nail-biting key matches and moments of your Franchise GM career with streamlined seasons and Custom Game Entry
Embark announced a limited test running October 13–20, 2026, in which players can choose between classic PvPvE matchmaking and a PvE experience focused on cooperating against ARC. During that test, a PvE-minded player has a more direct way to sample the game without treating every human contact as a potential fight. The date range is important: no official announcement currently establishes that the toggle becomes a permanent mode after October 20.
What the temporary PvE test changes for a buyer
- If you dislike surprise PvP: the test is the best documented opportunity to try the cooperative side before deciding whether the regular format is acceptable.
- If you enjoy extraction tension: classic matchmaking preserves the intended PvPvE pressure and is the more representative test of the game’s core design.
- If you are buying after the test: check a current official announcement or the in-game matchmaking options rather than assuming the PvE choice remains available.
A PvE test can answer whether the movement, encounters, quests, and progression appeal to you, but it cannot prove that the long-term game will satisfy a player who requires a permanent PvE-only queue.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallHow progression and the skill tree work
The official Steam description identifies four connected progression rewards: gear, crafting materials, XP, and skill points. Quests are the mechanism explicitly associated with those rewards. XP helps level a Raider, while skill points unlock abilities in three named branches:
| Branch | What is established | How to think about it |
|---|---|---|
| Survival | A named skill-tree area | Review its available abilities when choosing how to make future runs safer; official information does not specify individual skills. |
| Mobility | A named skill-tree area | Consider it when your priority is movement and repositioning; exact effects depend on the current in-game tree. |
| Conditioning | A named skill-tree area | Compare its choices with the needs of your preferred loadout and session style; detailed ability values are not established here. |
The table deliberately separates confirmed structure from interpretation. The names of the branches are official; particular cooldowns, numerical bonuses, recommended builds, and respec costs are not supplied by current official details and should not be treated as fixed facts.
What changed with Frozen Trail
The Frozen Trail update went live on October 8, 2026. A PC Gamer preview published October 7 described a reworked skill tree that combines old and new abilities. The preview also noted that some branch choices require selecting one ability over another. That makes progression more deliberate: a point is not always a simple purchase of every available improvement.
Rank #3
- Only at Amazon Limited Edition Content - The Rogue Infiltrator Character Pack includes cosmetics for Kay and Nix.
- Discover a galaxy of opportunity. Explore distinct locations with bustling cities and cantinas. Race across sprawling outdoor landscapes on your speeder. Each location brings new adventures, unique challenges, and enticing rewards if you’re willing to take the risk.
- Experience an original scoundrel story. Live the high-stakes lifestyle of an outlaw. Turn any situation to your advantage with Nix by your side: fight with your blaster, overcome enemies with stealth and gadgets, or find the right moments to distract enemies and gain the upper hand.
- Embark on high-stakes missions. Take on high-risk, high-reward missions from the galaxy’s crime syndicates. Steal valuable goods, infiltrate secret locations, and outwit enemies as one of the galaxy’s most wanted. Every choice you make influences your ever-changing reputation.
- Jump into the pilot seat. Pilot your ship, the Trailblazer, as you engage in thrilling dogfights with the Empire and other foes. Find the right opportunities to chase, evade, and attack to get the upper hand.
PC Gamer’s previewer judged the rework meaningful for long-term progression but not an immediate transformation of the whole game. That is an editorial assessment, not a universal rule. A new player may notice the structure more than a veteran, while a player already comfortable with the previous tree may experience the changes mainly as additional planning rather than a radically different minute-to-minute loop.
A practical way to spend early skill points
- Play enough sessions to identify your failure pattern. If you regularly lose runs while moving, a mobility-oriented choice may address a different problem than a survival-oriented choice. Do not pick solely from a tier-list label you have not verified for the current patch.
- Read the entire choice before confirming. Because the reworked tree can require choosing between abilities, treat each selection as a trade-off rather than assuming every branch is additive.
- Match points to your actual objective. A quest-focused player may value consistency and safe returns; a player seeking encounters may accept more risk for a different build. The game’s official materials do not establish a single best path.
- Recheck the tree after updates. Frozen Trail is current as of October 8, 2026, but live-service balance can change the relative value of abilities. Use the descriptions in your current client when making a final choice.
Who is most likely to enjoy it?
Good fit: players who want meaningful extraction risk
ARC Raiders suits you if a successful extraction feels more satisfying because failure was possible. You will need to tolerate unfinished objectives, changing routes, and the knowledge that another player can alter a plan. The game’s appeal is strongest when you enjoy making decisions under uncertainty rather than following a fixed mission script.
Good fit: players who like PvE pressure with human unpredictability
The ARC machines provide a consistent environmental problem, while other Raiders prevent every encounter from becoming routine. This is a useful middle ground for players who want more than a pure competitive shooter but less predictability than a strictly cooperative campaign.
Good fit: players who enjoy gradual build planning
Quests, XP, gear, materials, and skill points give repeated sessions a visible purpose. The three-branch tree adds a planning layer, and the Frozen Trail rework makes some decisions mutually exclusive. If you like adapting a character over time, that structure is a reason to try the game.
Poor fit: players who require permanent PvE-only play
The documented PvE option is a test scheduled for October 13–20, 2026. Unless Embark confirms otherwise, you should assume the standard product is PvPvE and evaluate it on that basis.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Poor fit: players who dislike losing an uncompleted run
Extraction design is built around the possibility that a session ends without the outcome you wanted. No current official rules specify every loss rule, but the fundamental risk of trying to leave with loot is central to the format. If you prefer guaranteed rewards at the end of every mission, the loop may feel stressful rather than motivating.
Platforms and practical buying checks
| Platform | Confirmed availability | Check before purchase |
|---|---|---|
| PC | Listed by the official game information; the Steam page also carries the game description. | Hardware requirements, storefront region, and current price. |
| PlayStation 5 | Listed by the official game information. | Local console-store price, online-service requirements, and edition details. |
| Xbox Series X|S | Listed by the official game information. | Local store listing, online-service requirements, and whether your chosen edition is available in your region. |
| GeForce NOW | Listed by the official game information as a supported platform. | Current service availability, supported storefront, membership requirements, and streaming performance on your connection. |
No current official regional price was published. Do not use a price from another country, an old promotion, or a different edition as a universal cost. Check the storefront attached to your account on the day you buy.
Questions to answer before spending money
- Is the normal matchmaking format acceptable if the temporary PvE test has ended?
- Do you have a platform that is officially listed and a connection suitable for multiplayer play?
- Are you comfortable learning a skill tree whose exact abilities and trade-offs can change with updates?
- Does the local storefront show the edition and price you expect?
How to evaluate the game during your first sessions
A short trial should test the parts that determine whether the game is for you, not just whether the opening minutes look polished. Use the following sequence without assuming that every menu label is identical across platforms.
- Confirm the matchmaking type. If the October 13–20 test is active, identify whether you selected classic PvPvE or the cooperative PvE option. If no PvE choice is shown, treat standard play as PvPvE.
- Choose one achievable quest objective. The point is to learn how quest rewards, materials, and extraction decisions connect. Do not judge progression from a single encounter that never reaches a successful return.
- Observe the cost of caution. Note whether avoiding a fight leaves you with enough time and resources to complete the objective. The game is testing your decision-making, not merely your aim.
- Attempt a deliberate extraction. Leave once you have enough information to judge the risk, rather than extending the session solely to maximize loot. You need to feel the tension of converting a run into a reward.
- Inspect the Raider level and skill tree. Check how the completed quest translated into XP and skill points, then read the Survival, Mobility, and Conditioning options before spending anything.
- Repeat in the other available matchmaking type. If the test is active, compare how cooperative PvE changes your comfort and decision-making. If it is not, use several standard sessions to decide whether human unpredictability is a feature or a deal-breaker.
This process gives you evidence about the game’s loop without claiming that a few sessions represent the entire live-service experience. Long-term enjoyment will depend on whether the quest and skill progression remain motivating after the novelty of the first encounters fades.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsWhat the current reception can—and cannot—tell you
Steam showed 200,564 English-language reviews with 81% positive sentiment on October 13, 2026. That is a storefront snapshot, not a permanent quality score. Review totals and percentages change, and the figure may differ by language filter, region, or later updates.
Best Value
![Assassin's Creed Shadows [PlayStation 5]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51cgBmgsqGL._SL160_.jpg)
- Experience an epic, historical action adventure in feudal Japan and become a deadly Shinobi assassin and a powerful legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open game world in chaotic times
- Sneak as a Naoe to not be discovered, use your agility to confuse your opponents and stretch down your opponents with deadly precision and power as a Yasuke
- Use information as weapons and build your own spy network to have eyes and ears everywhere and find your targets easier and recruit new allies on the go with unique skills to help you with your missions
- Create a fully customizable hideaway for your growing Shinobi league, where you train recruits, craft new equipment and interact with important characters; set the room layout, decoration and accessories yourself
Use the snapshot as a signal that a substantial English-speaking Steam audience has responded positively, not as proof that the game suits your preferences. A player who dislikes PvP intrusion can reasonably reject the game despite a favorable aggregate rating, while an extraction enthusiast may find the same rating reassuring but still need to verify the current mode and price.
Important unknowns before you commit
Several buying questions remain version- or region-dependent. No current official information establishes regional prices, detailed reset or expedition rules, the permanent status of PvE matchmaking after October 20, or Amazon availability for a boxed console edition or licensed physical product. Those are not safe areas for assumptions.
For a current decision, verify three things in order: the platform listing and local price, the matchmaking options visible in the present client, and the latest official announcement about the PvE test. This avoids turning a temporary event or a storefront snapshot into a promise about the product’s future.
Recommended Free Tools
ARC Raiders compared with the alternatives you may already play
The useful comparison is about design priorities rather than brand names. Ask these questions of any competing game:
| Decision axis | What ARC Raiders emphasizes | Question to ask about an alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Can PvP interrupt PvE? | Yes in the standard PvPvE format; a PvE-only option is documented only as an October 13–20, 2026 test. | Is PvP optional, unavoidable, or absent—and is that status permanent? |
| Extraction risk | Gathering and returning with rewards are central to the experience. | Does failure put a meaningful run at risk, or are rewards guaranteed? |
| Progression pace | Quests award gear, materials, XP, and skill points across Survival, Mobility, and Conditioning. | Does the progression system reward repeated objectives in a way you enjoy? |
| Platform access | PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and GeForce NOW are listed officially. | Does it support your hardware and local storefront? |
| Cost certainty | Current regional prices are not established here. | What is the live price for your edition and region today? |
This framework is more reliable than choosing on genre labels alone. Two games can both be called extraction shooters while creating very different levels of pressure, progression commitment, and tolerance for PvP.
Bottom-line decision
Buy or try ARC Raiders if you want a multiplayer extraction adventure in which ARC machines, other players, and your own decision about when to leave all shape the outcome. Its progression has a clear foundation—quests feed gear, materials, XP, and skill points—and the October 8 Frozen Trail update gives the skill tree more consequential choices.
Wait or skip it if you need a guaranteed permanent PvE mode, dislike losing the value of an unfinished run, or want a fully documented fixed progression system. The October 13–20 PvE matchmaking test is useful for evaluating the cooperative side, but it is not evidence of a permanent option after that date.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
