ARC Raiders success: 12 million copies sold and global dominance

In a remarkable strategic move that reshaped the balance of power in the video game market, Patrick Söderlund, CEO and founder of Embark Studios , revealed the record-breaking numbers achieved by ARC Raiders , confirming that the bold decision to transform the game from a free-to-play model to $40 paid game

Transformation Strategy and Helldivers 2 Impact

Söderlund explained that the development team carefully studied global market dynamics, drawing inspiration from the success of Helldivers 2, which demonstrated that players are willing to pay for a high-quality cooperative experience that avoids complex in-game purchases. He noted that the goal was to deliver a product where players feel they get real, tangible value for their money, especially since the game focuses entirely on competitive and cooperative multiplayer experiences and does not include a single-player campaign, making gameplay the primary benchmark for success.

Embark Studios Historical Background

To understand the magnitude of this achievement, one must consider the history of Embark Studios, founded by veteran game industry professionals who previously worked at the renowned DICE studio. This team possesses extensive experience in developing first-person shooter games, a fact clearly reflected in the graphical fidelity and motion physics of ARC Raiders. This technical heritage instilled in the audience a pre-existing confidence in the studio's ability to deliver a technically polished experience, which helped them accept the idea of ​​paying upfront rather than trying the game for free.

Record numbers and huge sales

The new strategy quickly paid off, with the game recording sales exceeding 12 million copies during the last weekend of 2025. Steam accounted for the lion's share of these sales with approximately 7 million copies, thus placing the game at the top of the sales charts and ending the year in first place, exceeding the expectations of economic analysts in the digital entertainment sector.

Excellence in global awards

The success wasn't limited to the commercial side; it extended to critical acclaim, with the game receiving a strong score of 86 on Metacritic based on 57 reviews from leading critics. This success culminated in winning the "Best Multiplayer Game" award at The Game Awards, beating out strong contenders like Battlefield 6 and the Elden Ring: Nightreign expansion. This triumph sends a powerful message to the gaming industry: quality and innovation in multiplayer games can outperform established brands if presented within a fair economic model.