Embark Studio’s “server slam” play test for Arc Raiders was a runaway success, with the extraction shooter putting up some huge player numbers on Steam ahead of its official release. The play test peaked at 189,668 concurrent players, and stayed in the top ten most played Steam games all weekend.
The weekend’s open play test was designed as a stress test for the game’s servers ahead of its official release on October 30, and it looks like the studio got what it was looking for. The test involved just one map, the Dam Battleground, and allowed players to try out the game’s progression, crafting, and quest mechanics.
Arc Raiders is being developed by Embark Studios, who were also behind 2023 arena shooter The Finals. Embark was founded by a number of industry veterans, including former Battlefield executive Patrick Soderlund. While The Finals was released as a free-to-play title, Arc Raiders is following the premium model and will release with a $40 price tag.