Key Takeaways
1. The Arc Raiders Server Slam playtest began on October 17, attracting a peak of 189,668 players and running until the game’s official launch on October 30.
2. The game quickly reached over 185,000 concurrent players on Steam, ranking fourth among most-played games, surpassing popular titles like PUBG and Baldur’s Gate 3.
3. The total player count is likely much higher, as the playtest is also available on Epic Games Store and consoles, potentially doubling the number of concurrent players.
4. Despite initial server issues, the playtest remained stable with concurrent players above 100,000, and a hotfix was released to address crashes and disconnections.
5. Player feedback is mixed, with some finding the limited content repetitive, while others are excited for the full launch; the game’s success may depend on maintaining server reliability.
The Arc Raiders Server Slam playtest began on October 17 and marks the last free weekend testing period before the game officially launches on October 30. This playtest has attracted gamers from all over the world, reaching a peak of 189,668 players.
Popularity on Steam
Embark Studios’ PvPvE extraction shooter quickly achieved over 185,000 concurrent players on Steam when it first became available. SteamDB recorded a peak of 189,668 players on the first day, with a close figure of 185,137 on Saturday.
Ranking High Among Players
These remarkable numbers pushed Arc Raiders to the number four position on Steam’s list of most-played games, surpassing titles like PUBG: Battlegrounds, Rust, Megabonk, Marvel Rivals, Baldur’s Gate 3, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Bongo Cat. It trails only behind Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and Battlefield 6.
Total Player Count
It’s worth noting that these figures only include Steam users. The playtest is also available on the Epic Games Store and consoles such as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S|X, which means the actual number of concurrent players is likely much higher, potentially doubling when considering all platforms.
Despite the massive influx of players—over 100,000 concurrent players within just two hours of launch on Steam—the playtest has been fairly stable, though there was an initial issue.
Embark Studios released a hotfix shortly after the servers went live to address crashes, disconnection issues, and other problems due to the unexpected player volume. This update, however, required players to redownload the entire game. The studio reassured players on their official X account that such large downloads “should not be the norm moving forward.”
Players’ Feedback
Nonetheless, this hasn’t stopped players from joining the Arc Raiders Server Slam playtest, with concurrent player counts remaining above 100,000. Currently, players are discussing the game’s mechanics and the limited content available during the testing phase. Some believe this leads to a repetitive experience, while others appreciate it for creating excitement for the full launch.
If Embark can keep this momentum and ensure server reliability until the end of the playtest and after the release, Arc Raiders could break the trend of problematic online launches. It may emerge as a strong competitor in the extraction shooter genre, joining the ranks of Hunt: Showdown, Helldivers 2, Arena Breakout: Infinite, and Delta Force.
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