As a longtime gamer, Arc Raiders has proven to be a big surprise for me. I was around four or five years old when I picked up my first controller as my older, and much cooler, cousin taught me how to play Banjo Kazooie. Gaming has grown leaps and bounds since then, and Arc Raiders is a perfect example of just how much the industry has changed. Ever since Fortnite hit the scene back in 2017, a lot of the industry has been saturated by battle royale offerings, but Arc Raiders is paving the way for a new genre to be in the middle of the spotlight: the extraction shooter.
Extraction shooters are nothing new, but they have definitely become a hotter topic of discussion, especially this year. Before Arc Raiders, some of the most notable titles in the genre were Escape from Tarkov and Hunt: Showdown 1896. Now that Escape from Tarkov is about to release its 1.0 version, the genre is going to be in the news even more. On top of that, though, Bungie has its own extraction shooter on the way. Marathon was supposed to launch this year, but it has since been delayed to 2026. However, once it arrives, it will be yet another big-name extraction shooter that further cements the genre as the next big thing. I’ll be honest, this trend has made me a bit nervous about the future of gaming, but thanks to Arc Raiders, I’ve become a lot more optimistic about this genre making waves.
Up until recently, the industry’s lean into extraction shooters in the future definitely had me cautious, because I simply haven’t been able to get into the genre. Escape from Tarkov is grueling, and as much as I enjoy the setting and atmosphere of Hunt: Showdown 1896, it just didn’t click with me. However, Arc Raiders has ticked boxes I wasn’t expecting, especially when it comes to detail and world building. Arc Raiders may not be a narrative-driven game (which is my usual preference), but with the lore and world that the game offers in its setting, the story can still be felt.
The dynamic maps, the incredible music, and the sweat-inducing fight for survival immediately pulled me in, and it’s made me far more excited about extraction shooters being the next big thing in gaming. What’s even more charming is that Arc Raiders encourages kindness. For the most part, players are fighting to survive together, even if they’re solo. It’s incredibly easy to just shoot another player, but a lot of the community has come together to realize that the ultimate threat is the ARC, and any humans encountered along the way are ultimately on your team.
It’s such a refreshing change of pace, and while this is likely going to be an aspect that is mostly unique to Arc Raiders, it’s another example of how the game has unexpectedly won me over. I had mentioned world building earlier, and that’s definitely one of my top compliments that I have about the game as a whole. Of course, the gameplay loop and graphics are fantastic, but I’m already completely invested in Arc Raiders‘ world, and I can’t wait to learn more. Developer Embark Studios set this game up in such a way that it could have years of content and deeper lore waiting in the wings, and that’s a thrilling thought.
While there have been a handful of extraction shooters released in recent years, Arc Raiders has managed to draw the most attention. One of the most important qualities of Arc Raiders is that it’s incredibly approachable. Yes, it’s a challenge, but it also respects a player’s time, allowing for a more casual experience that is still rewarding.
- Marathon -release date TBA
- Exoborne – release date TBA
Both Marathon and Exoborne are the extraction shooters to keep an out for post-Arc Raiders. It may not seem like the extraction shooter floodgates have been completely opened just yet, but it definitely feels like the industry is eyeing the genre closely, especially now that Arc Raiders has amassed such positive feedback. After Bungie’s past playtests ignited heavily mixed reviews from participants, Marathon has gone back to the drawing board, and Arc Raiders is hopefully being eyed as a title to emulate. The visuals for Marathon are stunning, so the gameplay and lore can hopefully help it stick the landing when it’s ready for launch.
Of course, the gameplay loop and graphics are fantastic, but I’m already completely invested in Arc Raiders‘ world, and I can’t wait to learn more.
The Future of Arc Raiders Hopefully Lives Up to Expectations
- More maps have already been confirmed for future updates.
- Expanding maps will also expand the story and lore.
The world of Arc Raiders already feels incredibly vast and detailed, but it will be fascinating to see where Embark Studios take the game with future updates. It’s also bound to be hard to live up to expectations, too, though. As a fresh game, Arc Raiders feels shiny and new, but after a while, the upcoming content will hopefully continue to keep the fires burning. While this is difficult, it definitely isn’t impossible. Helldivers 2 has managed to keep its ongoing content and updates enticing, and even though it isn’t an extraction shooter, it could still be a solid source of inspiration for Arc Raiders down the road.
Arc Raiders‘ potential feels like it has no limit at the moment, and only time will tell if that’s actually the case. Right now, though, Arc Raiders has completely changed my tone on what extraction shooters can be. Extraction Shooters can serve as the base for a lot of creativity to flow from, and that has given rise to a beautifully crafted world with incredibly fun gameplay. Because of this, it makes me far more excited to see how other developers take this formula and use it to create their own unique worlds and make the genre their own.
- Released
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October 30, 2025
- ESRB
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Teen / Violence, Blood
