ARC Raiders is a multiplayer extraction shooter from Embark Studios, the team behind The Finals. It is set on a ravaged future Earth ruled by a mechanized threat called the ARC. This guide explains what the gameplay actually looks like, from the moment you leave the underground hub to the moment you extract with loot. It covers the raid loop, the maps, the enemies, progression, and the choices that make or break a run.
The core loop
The game is built around a repeating cycle. First, you prepare in Speranza, the underground city where humanity survives. Second, you go topside into a raid on a map. Third, you scavenge, fight and complete objectives. Fourth, you extract alive and return to Speranza. Finally, you use what you brought back to craft, upgrade and complete quests, then go again. If you die in a raid, you lose what you carried, which is why every decision during a run has weight.
Speranza: your hub
Speranza is the heart of your operations. It is a hidden underground refuge where you rest, craft and plan. You meet traders there, you take on quests, you upgrade your workshop and you improve your gear. Five key traders provide goods such as ammo and crafting parts, extraction keys and explosives. Recycling items at Speranza gives a higher return of raw materials than field salvaging, so recycle at home unless you are overweight or desperate for supplies mid-raid.
Going topside: the maps
Your ventures topside take place in different locations around the Rust Belt. The maps at launch include Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, the Spaceport and the Blue Gate, with rumors of a place called Stella Montis. Later updates have added more, including a coastal map in the Riven Tides update. Each map has its own layout, weather and enemy concentrations. One launch-era description lists the Rust Belt as industrial wastelands with wrecked mechs and hidden caches, and the Dead City as collapsed skyscrapers where fights are vertical.
Maps are color-coded by threat and loot. Zones range from low to high risk, and high-value areas draw the most players because everyone learns the good loot spots. Each raid can include random world events that change the risk. Some offer high-tier rewards, while others make survival harder. A map instance closes after roughly 40 minutes to an hour.
The ARC: your main enemy
ARC machines patrol the map whenever you are topside. They range from small drones to large walking machines, and many drop valuable parts when destroyed. Killing ARC enemies can also give shield batteries, which you use to top up your shields. Some ARC require explosives or specific weapons, and the largest ones are so strong that taking them down needs several teams working together. Sound draws attention, so loud weapons and explosions can pull ARC or other players toward you.
Other Raiders: PvPvE
Other players share the same map. You can team up with squads of up to three or play solo, and you can cooperate with other Raiders you meet or fight them. That makes every encounter uncertain. A raid is not a simple fight against the environment. A friendly player can turn hostile, and a quiet corridor can hold an ambush. Many experienced players keep their weapons ready and watch for extraction points where other raiders are likely to gather.
Combat and movement
The game is third-person, with gunplay that mixes weapons such as SMGs, shotguns, rifles, railguns and energy weapons. Every bullet, explosion and movement matters, because sound draws attention. Raiders can run and slide with ease, and the movement tree improves your mobility. Higher-tech options such as energy weapons are available, and you can add attachments or take weapons to your workshop for upgrades.
Progression: skills, crafting and quests
- Skill tree: three branches, Survival, Mobility and Conditioning. Experts advise going deep in one branch before spreading points.
- Workshop: upgrading workbenches lets you craft rarer weapons and gear. Higher tiers need rare drops from ARC enemies, such as Wasp Drivers, and multiple successful extractions.
- Blueprints: learn recipes to craft more advanced items.
- Quests: traders give quests that reward items and unlock more content. The first is Picking Up The Pieces from Shani.
Extraction: the moment that matters
Extraction points have their own map icons, and a raid ends successfully only when you reach one alive. Extraction points can be contested, so stay in cover, watch your surroundings and wait if anything looks wrong. Leaving a raid early with a few valuable items is often better than staying for more and losing everything.
Tips for your first raids
- Use the free loadout so that failure costs nothing.
- Avoid unnecessary fights. They cost time and ammunition.
- Learn the map and extraction points before you chase loot.
- Keep moving and stay quiet.
- Recycle at home and keep your inventory light.
A sample raid from start to finish
You pick a map and load in with a basic loadout. You land in a quiet part of the map and head toward a medium-risk loot zone. On the way you hear drone sounds, so you crouch and move slowly past a patrol instead of fighting it. In a building you loot a few containers, take a crafting part and a ration, and keep your bag light. Gunfire rings out somewhere to the east, which tells you another squad has found a fight, so you pick a route to an extraction point to the west. You reach it, wait a moment to check for company, and extract. Back in Speranza you recycle your finds, craft a shield, and check your quest list. That is a good raid: modest risk, clear decisions and a safe exit.
Solo, duo or trio?
You can play solo or in squads of up to three. Solo play is stealthier and lets you control your own pace, but you carry all the risk. A trio can take on tougher enemies and secure revives, but it is louder and attracts more attention. Many players start solo to learn the maps and then team up with friends once they understand the loop. Whichever you choose, communication and a plan for extraction matter more than raw aim.
Dynamic events and weather
Raids are not static. Varying weather, different enemies and random events add unpredictability, so no two runs are the same. Some events raise the rewards and the danger together, and the best players decide in advance whether a high-risk event is worth it. If you are new, treat events as optional and focus on learning the map first.
Why extraction shooters feel tense
The tension comes from the stakes. Because you can lose everything you carry, each choice becomes a risk calculation: another container, one more room, or leave now. The game rewards patience and punishes greed. New players often die because they stay a minute too long, and experienced players learn when to leave. Treat your first raids as practice for that judgment.
Platforms
ARC Raiders is available on PC and on PlayStation 5, including PS5 Pro. It is not available on PlayStation 4. PS Plus is required for online play on PlayStation, and up to 21 online players are supported at the same time.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of game is ARC Raiders?
A third-person PvPvE extraction shooter.
How many players are in a squad?
Up to three.
What happens if I die?
You lose what you carried into the raid.
What are the maps?
Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, the Spaceport and the Blue Gate, with more added in updates.
What is Speranza?
The underground hub where you craft, trade and take quests.
Is it on PS4?
No. It is available on PS5 and PC.