ARC Raiders hits 4 million, Nexon’s biggest launch ever
Embark Studios first revealed ARC Raiders in 2021 as a next-gen blend of sci-fi spectacle and survival-shooter grit. After several delays, and a surprise genre shift into PvPvE extraction gameplay, the eventual debut has more than delivered. According to publisher Nexon, ARC Raiders has now sold over 4 million copies globally since its launch on October 30, 2025, across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
The game’s player counts have been equally impressive. Nexon reports a peak concurrent player count of over 700,000 across all platforms, while Steam alone saw ARC Raiders climb to an impressive 462,000 concurrent users, briefly outpacing other genre heavyweights like Helldivers 2, and showing a marked increase in concurrent players after release as opposed to the expected decline. This makes ARC Raiders Nexon’s most successful global launch ever, and a major win for Embark.
The verdict so far
ARC Raiders is set on a ruined Earth overrun by mechanized invaders known as the ARC. The game mixes third person combat, team based survival, and tense PvPvE extractions. Players scavenge, fight off Raiders and rival squads, and haul their bounty to safety under impressive weather and lighting powered by Unreal Engine 5. Players on Steam praise the game's stunning visuals and emergent encounters, leading to what appears to be a strong community post-launch. Interestingly, many players have found that despite its focus on team-based play, ARC Raiders offers a surprisingly strong solo experience. Professional ARC Raiders reviews also color the game in a generally favorable light, including a surprisingly positive consensus on the game's visuals and performance both being fantastic on appropriate systems.
Despite its runaway success, launch week wasn’t all smooth sailing for Embark. Connection issues, performance drops, and early cheating reports prompted Embark to issue in-game currency compensation to all players as an apology. The team has also rolled out multiple patches targeting stability, matchmaking, and anti-cheat improvements. On top of the performance issues players have come to expect from new launches, Embark has faced some backlash for using generative AI in the title, sparking further conversation on the evolving use of AI in videogames.
Beyond the launch
Nexon, for its part, sees the title as a foundation for long-term growth within its Western portfolio, a rare breakout for a publisher better known for its success in Asian markets. Lee Jong-hong, President and Representative Director of Nexon stated “We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to Embark Studios for its most successful global launch in Nexon history. We are deeply impressed by the enthusiasm that the player community puts into this game, and we are working hard to further enhance the excitement with a new content plan that will be implemented starting this month, including maps, ARC machines, weapons, and quests." As of the posting of this article, the game remains at the top of Steam's Top Sellers chart.
With ARC Raiders carving out space in an increasingly crowded extraction-shooter field alongside Tarkov, Heartland, and Dark and Darker, its early numbers suggest Embark may have found the right balance between spectacle and survival.
Source(s)
Nexon, Embark Studios, Steam, Notebookcheck
