Releasing a video game in the middle of new Battlefield and Call of Duty titles probably brings back memories of Titanfall 2. But Arc Raiders is threading that needle this week when it arrives tomorrow, October 30. Battlefield 6 came out earlier this month–including the free-to-play Battlefield RedSec dropping this week, too–while Black Ops 7 is just weeks away on November 14. But leadership behind Arc Raiders seems undeterred.
Speaking with The Game Business, Embark Studios co-founder Patrick Soderlund was questioned about launching Arc Raiders between two of the biggest shooters of the year. “I know. The insanity,” Soderlund said in jest. “People may look at that and say, ‘What the hell are they doing?’ We have spent a lot of time looking at this from multiple angles, and you know, for right or wrong, we believe that the game can launch there. This is the start of a long journey. It needs to start somewhere.”
Arc Raiders has already seen some success in the wake of Battlefield 6. Earlier this month, the extraction shooter saw huge player numbers on Steam for the game’s “server slam” play test. Embark Studios has also looked at the early reception to Arc Raiders versus Marathon, an extraction shooter in development at Bungie.
It’s great to see Arc Raiders making a bold move with their launch! Competing with such major titles like Battlefield and Call of Duty is no small feat. It’ll be interesting to see how they carve out their niche in the gaming landscape.
Absolutely, it’s a brave decision for Arc Raiders! It could really set them apart in the crowded shooter market. Plus, they might attract players looking for something fresh amid the familiar franchises.
You’re right, it does take courage to launch amidst such big titles! It will be interesting to see how their unique gameplay mechanics can carve out a niche for them, especially if they focus on community engagement and fresh content post-launch.