According to Forbes, ARC Raiders has achieved something incredibly rare in gaming – it’s gaining players after launch. The game just hit a peak of 416,000 concurrent players on Steam a full week after its debut, which represents a 17.5% increase from its launch window peak of 354,000. Even more impressive, this more than doubles the 189,000 concurrent players from the free open beta three weeks ago. What makes this remarkable is that the final game costs $40 or more for bundle packages, meaning players who tried it for free are now paying to play. This viral growth pattern is defying the typical blockbuster trajectory where most games peak during their opening weekend. For Embark Studios, this represents one of the biggest success stories of 2025.
Defying Gravity
Here’s the thing about game launches – they usually follow a predictable pattern. Big opening weekend, then gradual decline. But ARC Raiders is basically laughing at that playbook. Growing 17.5% in your second week? That’s not supposed to happen. And doubling your free beta numbers when you start charging money? That’s practically unheard of.
What’s really fascinating here is the context. This isn’t some established franchise from a giant publisher. Embark is a smaller studio working with a brand new IP in what’s still a relatively niche genre. They’re competing against billion-dollar franchises and somehow pulling off numbers that would make the big players jealous. It reminds me of Sandfall Games with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – another case where a smaller team created something that’s competing with, and sometimes beating, the industry giants.
Beyond The Numbers
Now, let’s talk about what this means beyond the raw concurrent player counts. This isn’t just about having a big launch – it’s about creating something that actually resonates with players. The sky-high player scores and near-record critic scores for a multiplayer-only game tell us this isn’t just hype. People are genuinely loving what Embark has built.
And let’s not forget Embark’s track record. Their previous game, The Finals, launched strong with 242,000 concurrents and has maintained a solid player base in a multiplayer landscape that’s absolutely brutal. Many games launch big and then disappear within months. The Finals is still trucking along, which suggests Embark knows how to support their games long-term.
What Comes Next
So where does ARC Raiders go from here? Obviously there will be some drop-off – that’s true for every live service game. But starting from this position gives them an incredible foundation. They’ve already proven they can attract and retain players in a way that defies conventional wisdom.
The real test will be whether they can maintain this momentum through content updates, seasonal events, and community engagement. But honestly? They’ve already achieved something most developers only dream of. In a year packed with amazing games, ARC Raiders has cemented itself as one of the most significant stories in gaming. And the fact that it’s doing this without a $70 price tag? That just makes the success even sweeter.
