Embark Studios’ debut title, ARC Raiders, has officially cemented itself as one of the most successful game launches of the year. According to a new report from Alinea Analytics, the extraction shooter has reached an estimated 2.5 million players across all platforms within its first week. Even more impressive, the game’s gross revenue has reportedly crossed the $100 million mark. It signals a strong start for both the studio and the genre.
The data shows that PC players on Steam accounted for the majority of the player base, contributing around 1.7 million players, or roughly 69 percent of total sales. PlayStation 5 came next with over 400,000 players (around 17.3 percent), followed by Xbox Series X/S with more than 300,000 players (about 13.5 percent).
Also see: ARC Raiders Quest List: Rewards, Objectives, and Locations
These numbers are particularly striking considering that ARC Raiders launched just days after the release of Battlefield: RedSec, a free-to-play battle royale that generated huge pre-launch hype. Despite the timing, Embark Studios’ game managed to carve out its own space and attract millions of players.
The extraction shooter genre has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, with games like Escape from Tarkov setting the foundation. However, ARC Raiders has pushed the format into mainstream attention. Its mix of third-person combat, looting, and high-risk extraction mechanics offers an experience that feels fresh and accessible even to players new to the genre.
What makes ARC Raiders stand out is its balance between tense survival mechanics and cinematic presentation. Built on Unreal Engine 5, the game delivers stunning visuals, dynamic environments, and fluid animations without compromising performance. Players have also praised the polish and optimization, which helped it maintain a strong player retention rate during its opening week.
Launching alongside major titles like Battlefield 6 and RedSec would be a tough challenge for any new IP, but ARC Raiders has not only survived, it has thrived. While Battlefield 6 sold more than seven million copies in its first three days and has already crossed 10 million copies, ARC Raiders managed to stay relevant in the conversation by offering something entirely different: a slower, more strategic shooter with cooperative and solo depth.
For Embark Studios, made up of former DICE veterans, this success marks a major milestone. It proves that innovation in shooter design can still find a massive audience, even in a crowded market dominated by established franchises.
Embark Studios has already teased a long-term roadmap that includes new modes, weapons, and seasonal content. The developers have also acknowledged the early server congestion issues, promising smoother matchmaking and compensation for affected players.
If the team can maintain a steady stream of content and refine the game’s progression systems, ARC Raiders could very well become one of the defining live-service titles of the decade. With its strong foundation and player engagement, it is poised to shape the future of extraction shooters.
