Arc Raiders will be the first game from Embark Studios — the new venture founded by former EA executive Patrick Soderlund — and players will see you defending Earth from a mysterious mechanized threat from outer space. This free co-op game is aiming for release on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC – it looks like it might be one of your new favorite games to rotate through as it launches.
The title was revealed at The Game Awards 2021 last December and made a lot of buzz right away…but does the Arc Raider have what it takes to compete with some of the other big (and more established) shooters out there? We’re here to break it all down with the X things we know about the game so far.
It’s the perfect mix of action and shooting
Don’t think it’s just a shooter – that would be boring, right? When you have interesting space machines approaching you from every angle, you have to be more creative in how to get them out. In addition to filling them with lead, you can use jump pads to get close and snug, secure them with snap hooks, and then shoot at weak spots or melee to dismember them – dead space style. More complex battles may require you to use all of these elements at the same time, which is an exciting prospect.
It has a huge arsenal of…
We only have details on two weapons so far; what appears to be an assault rifle and what appears to be a rocket launcher. But more news will be announced in time. What interests us, however, are less conventional weapons – like howitzers. It’s a massive cannon that will require your squad of two or three to operate; of course, it will affect your mobility and slow you down, but it’s a powerful old thing that can no doubt be used in Punch a hole in the enemy’s line.
…even bigger enemies
In the game’s first trailer, we see a giant multi-legged mechanical creature drop into the battlefield, as radar signals suggest something bigger may also be on the horizon. Sure, there will be skirmishes throughout the game, but it looks like the most challenging parts of Arc Raiders will revolve around these hulking machines. The one in the trailer is called the Baron…how easy do we think it’s going to be down?
The game has a solid pedigree
Embark Studios has a lot of brilliant talent on the game — when Soderlund left EA, he took with him some notable names, including a group of developers who worked at DICE at the time. You can also see DNA in Arc Raiders; don’t you think it looks a bit like Battlefront 2 at times? But the studio is not willing to sit still. “Our ambition for this game is to combine old and new genres with ground-breaking technological innovation to form something unique and significant,” it noted in a statement. Notably, the studio is run by six people who want to see Co-founded by gaming veterans who have seen games “become more engaging and diverse”. Hopefully this is a rhythm change from the open-world shooter we know so far.
It wants to be different from Destiny or The Division
You might be looking at the game and thinking “ah yes, guns, gear and loot – this will play like Destiny or The Division”. But that’s not the purpose here; it sounds like Embark wants to be more procedural than in Arc Raiders. A clip on the game’s website mentions that it wants moments of heroism to feel “unrehearsed.” The developers want you to “do the unexpected” and “improvise, using physics, your surroundings, and your wits to your advantage”. Is this just a marketing statement, or are we really going to get a game that’s more organic in the combat scene? We’ll have to wait and see.
There are careers/roles to choose from
We’ve already seen the two raiders we’ll play as: a human named Celeste and a robot named Lance. From this, we can assume it’s a class-based shooter, with each of the different characters having abilities and perks that allow them to play a role in your squad. Whether this will be as traditional as Medic, Assault, Sniper, etc. remains to be seen…but we’re hoping for something a little more creative.
The day-night cycle is very important
The game has some gorgeous visuals, but it’s not just for looks; the day/night cycle also has useful in-game effects. If you want to be stealthy against machine threats, you can operate under the cover of darkness – which gives you the upper hand on your enemies (and in some cases seems to change the way you fight).
it has a killer aesthetic
The overall vibe of Arc Raiders is a retro 80s and synthwave sci-fi feel – which I personally haven’t gotten tired of. Combining the industrial sci-fi feel of machines with a still-seemingly down-to-earth earth is very pleasing, and I wish the game would come close to the sci-fi vibe of Simon Stallenhag’s kitchen sink. We haven’t seen a game that does this.
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