ARC Raiders reached an estimated 1.7 million daily active players on October 14, its highest figure in six months, according to Alinea Analytics. The surge came after the 2.0 update and a free weekend, and was accompanied by new sales: the recovery was not limited to people who came in to try the game for free.
The update launched on October 8, and the free period ended on 12. Activity peaked two days after the trial ended. The sequence shows that interest continued beyond the promotion, although it does not establish how much each initiative contributed to the growth.
In the three days after free access ended, the game sold approximately 150,000 copies and generated nearly three million dollars, according to the firm’s estimates. That momentum coincided with a 50% discount. The figures are estimates from Alinea Analytics, not an official report published by Embark Studios.
A trial of playing without player-versus-player combat
Another change during this period was a trial of an exclusively PvE mode: it lets players take on enemies controlled by the game without facing other players. ARC Raiders normally combines both threats in its extraction gameplay, where participants search for resources and must survive to escape with their loot.
The PvE trial was scheduled to run from October 13 to 20. It began very close to the player peak, but that coincidence does not prove it caused the surge. Embark has shown openness to separating PvE and PvP experiences; for now, no permanent addition has been confirmed. For those looking to play without fighting other people, that distinction remains important.
Image: Official screenshot of combat in ARC Raiders. Credit: Embark Studios / Xbox Store.
