ARC Raiders Release Date: Oct 30, 2025, Price & Platforms
Anyone who’s been following ARC Raiders since its reveal in 2021 knows the wait has been a long one. Now Embark Studios has locked in a date: October 30, 2025, and the game is arriving with a $40 price tag and no free-to-play model.
Release date: October 30, 2025 ·
Price: $40 USD ·
Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S ·
Developer: Embark Studios ·
Genre: Extraction shooter ·
Free-to-play: No
Quick snapshot
- Release date: October 30, 2025 (IGN / Official Trailer)
- Price: $40 (Eurogamer)
- Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S (Game Informer)
- Exact preload start time
- Cross-play confirmation
- Future DLC plans
- Nintendo Switch or PS4 versions
- Announced December 2021, now launching October 30, 2025 (IGN / Official Trailer)
- Preload availability (timing TBD)
- Launch on Steam, PS5, Xbox Series X|S on October 30, 2025
Seven facts that define ARC Raiders at launch:
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Release date | October 30, 2025 (IGN) |
| Price | $40 (Eurogamer) |
| Developer | Embark Studios (Game Informer) |
| Platforms | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S (Game Informer) |
| Genre | Extraction shooter (Official Trailer Description) |
| Free-to-play | No (premium) (Eurogamer) |
| Model change | Originally free-to-play, switched to $40 buy-to-play (PC Gamer) |
Is ARC Raiders released?
Current status: ARC Raiders releases on October 30, 2025
- ARC Raiders has not been released yet; its official release date is October 30, 2025 (IGN / Official Trailer).
- No early access or open beta is currently available before launch.
- A Steam news post from Embark Studios confirms the date (Steam News).
The game was first announced in December 2021 with a target 2023 release (IGN reveal), but Embark Studios later shifted the timeline to 2025. No beta or early access period has been announced, so the first time anyone outside the studio will play ARC Raiders is on launch day.
Embark Studios is keeping its cards close—no test phases, no early previews. For a first-time extraction shooter from a studio known for The Finals, that’s a high-stakes bet on day-one quality.
Previous delays and development history
When ARC Raiders was announced at The Game Awards 2021, Embark Studios planned a 2023 launch. In 2023 the studio confirmed a delay to 2025, without a precise date (Steam News reference). At Summer Game Fest 2025, the final date of October 30 was revealed (Game Informer).
Why the delay? Embark has not publicly detailed the reasons, but the extra time likely allowed the team to transition from a free-to-play model to a premium structure.
What this means: The development arc—from 2021 reveal to 2025 release—signals a fundamental rethinking of the game’s monetization and scope.
Will ARC Raiders be free?
Why ARC Raiders dropped free-to-play plans
ARC Raiders was originally announced as a free-to-play title. But in early reports, Embark Studios confirmed it would launch as a premium $40 game (Eurogamer). The developer explicitly stated the $40 price was chosen to avoid being an “offender” to players in the extraction shooter market (PC Gamer).
The base game has no microtransactions, though optional Raider Tokens for cosmetics will be available (Eurogamer).
Embark Studios is effectively betting that players will pay upfront for an extraction shooter in a genre where free-to-play (like Hunt: Showdown or Escape from Tarkov) is the norm. The $40 buy-in lowers the barrier compared to $70 AAA titles, but it still puts the game in a paid-tier category.
The trade-off: Players avoid predatory monetization, but they must commit $40 before ever extracting a single piece of loot.
Will ARC Raiders be on Xbox?
Supported platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S
ARC Raiders launches on Windows (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S (Game Informer). A Steam news post confirms PC availability through Steam (Steam News).
Will ARC Raiders come to Nintendo Switch or PS4?
No Nintendo Switch or PlayStation 4 versions have been announced or are planned. Cross-play support is expected but not yet officially confirmed.
The pattern: Embark is targeting the current console generation and PC only, mirroring the approach of The Finals. This keeps development focused on high-performance hardware.
How much will ARC Raiders cost?
Standard edition pricing: $40
ARC Raiders has a standard price of $40 USD on all platforms (Eurogamer). No paid DLC or season pass at launch; only optional Raider Tokens for cosmetic items (PC Gamer).
The $40 price point was deliberately chosen to avoid being an “offender” to the player base.
In a market where many extraction shooters rely on battle passes and loot boxes, a flat $40 entry fee signals a commitment to fair monetization. But if the player base shrinks, there’s no ongoing revenue stream to support long-term updates—a risky bet for a live-service game.
The implication: Embark is asking for trust upfront. Players pay once and expect a complete experience, with no content gated behind additional payments.
Does ARC Raiders release at midnight?
Global release times and time zones
Embark Studios has not yet announced exact global release times, but the game will launch simultaneously worldwide on October 30. Preload will be available on Steam before launch; exact timing to be confirmed (Steam News).
Preload information for ARC Raiders
Preload details—including file size and specific window—have not been published. Historically, Embark Studios has offered preloads for The Finals, suggesting a similar window of 48–72 hours before release.
The catch: Without confirmed preload timing, players on slower connections may need to plan for post-launch download. Steam’s standard practice is to unlock preloads a few days before launch.
Timeline signal
- December 2021: ARC Raiders announced with a planned 2023 release (IGN / Official Trailer).
- 2023: Embark Studios delays release to 2025 without a specific date (Steam News reference).
- June 2025 (Summer Game Fest): Release date of October 30, 2025 announced (Game Informer).
- Late October 2025: Preload becomes available (exact timing TBD).
Confirmed facts
- Release date: October 30, 2025 (IGN)
- Price: $40 (Eurogamer)
- Platforms: Windows, PS5, Xbox Series X|S (Game Informer)
- Developer: Embark Studios (Game Informer)
- Not free-to-play (Eurogamer)
What’s unclear
- Exact preload start time
- Cross-play confirmation
- Future DLC or season pass plans
- Nintendo Switch or PS4 versions
What the developers are saying
We wanted to make sure that ARC Raiders doesn’t treat its players as revenue streams. The $40 price tag lets us build a game that respects their time and wallet.
— Embark Studios representative, as reported by Eurogamer
Embark Studios also confirmed via press release that October 30 marks launch day, describing the game as “our love letter to the extraction adventure genre” (Steam News).
For extraction shooter fans waiting for a fresh contender, the choice is clear: pay $40 on October 30 and join the fight, or watch from the sidelines. Embark Studios has staked its reputation on a premium model that promises no microtransaction headaches. Come launch day, the community will decide whether that bet pays off.
For those counting down, the confirmed Arc Raiders release date is October 30, 2025, and it will cost $40 on PC, PS5, and Xbox.
Frequently asked questions
Can I play ARC Raiders on PC without Steam?
No—the PC version is only confirmed on Steam. An Epic Games Store version has not been announced.
Is there a physical disc version for consoles?
No physical disc edition has been announced. The game is digital-only across all platforms.
Will ARC Raiders have a battle pass?
No battle pass at launch. Only optional cosmetic Raider Tokens are planned.
What is the file size for ARC Raiders on PC?
File size has not been announced. Check Steam closer to launch for system requirements and download size.
Is ARC Raiders a battle royale game?
No—it is an extraction shooter, not a battle royale. The goal is to scavenge resources and extract safely.
Who publishes ARC Raiders?
Embark Studios is both the developer and publisher. It is an independent release.
Does ARC Raiders support cross-progression?
Cross-progression has not been confirmed. More details expected before launch.
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