Deal | ARC Raiders drops biggest update yet, free weekend and new all-time low on Steam

In ARC Raiders, a mysterious machine threat known as ARC has driven most of humanity from the Earth's surface. The few survivors have retreated to the underground city of Speranza, but they can't avoid venturing above ground entirely. To obtain valuable resources and lost technologies, so-called Raiders regularly venture into dangerous territory. Their scavenging runs take them through abandoned cities, ruined industrial facilities and overgrown landscapes teeming with hostile machines. But the robots aren't the only threat – other Raiders can prove just as deadly.

In terms of gameplay, ARC Raiders is a third-person extraction shooter that combines tactical gunfights with survival and crafting elements. Players venture out alone or in teams of three, searching ruins for valuable loot and battling hostile robots. Whether encounters with other Raiders turn into firefights, end with both sides going their separate ways or even lead to temporary alliances depends on the situation. The objective, however, always remains the same: Collect as much loot as possible and reach an extraction point alive. Anyone who dies along the way loses their equipment and everything they've collected. Successful raids, on the other hand, pay off: The resources obtained can be used to craft new weapons, upgrade the workshop and develop the character further.

In its review, PC Games (in German) was particularly impressed by ARC Raiders' immersive atmosphere, excellent sound design and unpredictable encounters. The successful blend of PvE and PvP, along with the varied AI enemies, also received praise. Criticism, however, was directed at the sometimes unconvincing weapon handling, high prices for cosmetic items and questionable long-term appeal. Overall, the publication awarded the game 8.5 out of 10 points.

On Steam, 81% of more than 419,000 player reviews are positive. Metacritic lists the extraction shooter with a Metascore of 86 and a user score of 7.3. The game is rated as “Playable” on Steam Deck.

Free weekend on Steam

ARC Raiders normally costs just under $40 on Steam, but can be played completely free of charge until October 12. Alongside the free weekend, the game is also 50% off until October 15, bringing the price down to $19.99. According to SteamDB, the previous maximum discount was 25%, meaning the current deal significantly undercuts the previous all-time low.

The free weekend isn't happening by coincidence, either: On October 8, Embark Studios released Frozen Trail, the biggest update for ARC Raiders so far. Alongside a new map, it introduces additional enemies, weapons and numerous gameplay improvements. A PvE-only matchmaking option is also scheduled to be tested from October 13 to 20, allowing players to fight the machines without having to worry about attacks from other Raiders. With these additions, the developers are likely also hoping to attract more players back to the extraction shooter. ARC Raiders has recently been struggling with declining player numbers.

Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.