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ARC Raiders is not a permanently free-to-play game. It is a paid online extraction adventure, although Embark ran a limited free-play promotion from October 8 at 09:00 UTC through October 12 at 08:00 UTC, 2026. That promotion has ended. Outside a similar time-limited offer, you need to buy the game on your chosen storefront. The official promotion gave temporary access to the full game, and purchases and progress made during the event carry over when you buy it.
You can play on PC (Steam or Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, or through GeForce NOW. Embark says social play works across PlayStation, Xbox and PC. The game is online multiplayer-only, but you can enter a raid alone or form a team of two or three.
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Is ARC Raiders free to play?
No. ARC Raiders is a paid game outside limited promotions. The October 8–12, 2026 event was a temporary free-play window, not a change to a permanent free-to-play business model. Since that event ended on October 12, a new player should expect to purchase the game through the relevant PC, console or cloud storefront.
Embark’s October 2 announcement described the event as access to the complete game so people could try it before buying: “Free play will grant access to the full ARC Raiders game, so you can try out the award-winning extraction adventure before you buy!” The offer was tied to specific dates and times, so an old article or social post describing the game as “free” may be referring to that promotion rather than the normal purchase requirement.
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What happened to progress from the free period?
Embark’s free-play terms say that progress and purchases made during the promotional period carry over if you later purchase the full game. That means an event participant did not have to restart solely because the trial ended. The carry-over condition applies to buying the full game; it should not be read as a promise that a future promotion will use identical rules.
Was there a charge anywhere during the promotion?
In Germany, Embark’s notice specified a €0.25 fee for the PS5 version during the October event. That was a country-, platform- and event-specific charge, not a worldwide price for ARC Raiders and not evidence that the game is now free. Storefront taxes, currencies and local terms can also affect what a buyer sees.
What kind of game is ARC Raiders?
ARC Raiders is a multiplayer extraction adventure set on a dangerous future Earth. Players face hostile ARC machines while also dealing with other human Raiders. A typical session is built around entering a raid, making decisions about risk and loot, and trying to leave successfully rather than following a traditional offline campaign structure.
The official PlayStation FAQ classifies the game as online multiplayer-only. “Solo” therefore means entering an online raid by yourself; it does not mean an offline, single-player story mode that works without an internet connection. You can still choose your own pace and avoid forming a group, but the surrounding game remains an online multiplayer environment.
Team sizes
- Solo: enter a raid alone.
- Two players: form a duo with one other player.
- Three players: form a full team of three.
The official materials establish those team sizes, but they do not establish a separate offline mode or a larger squad format. Use the in-game and local platform descriptions for any later changes to party options.
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What platforms is ARC Raiders on?
Embark’s official site lists the following platforms. The PlayStation listing specifically identifies PS5 and says the game is not available for PS4.
| Platform | Where to get it | What the official information confirms |
|---|---|---|
| PC | Steam | Officially listed PC storefront. |
| PC | Epic Games Store | Officially listed PC storefront. |
| Console | PlayStation 5 | Supported; the PlayStation page says PS4 is not supported. |
| Console | Xbox Series X|S | Officially listed Xbox generation. |
| Cloud | GeForce NOW | Listed by Embark as a supported way to play; check the local service listing and account requirements. |
There is no supported PS4 edition in the cited PlayStation listing. If you own an older console, do not assume that a PS5 listing will run on it through backward compatibility. Check the store page for the exact device you intend to use.
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Does ARC Raiders have crossplay?
Yes, for social play across the supported platform families. Embark states that “ARC Raiders supports seamless social play across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.” In practical terms, a PlayStation 5 player, an Xbox Series X|S player and a PC player can be friends in the same social group, subject to the game’s current account and matchmaking rules.
That statement confirms cross-platform social play, but it does not specify every matchmaking control. The reviewed official pages do not promise a particular input-based matchmaking filter, a universal cross-progression system, or identical voice-chat behavior on every platform. If your group needs one of those features, check the current in-game settings and platform-specific support information after installing.
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What crossplay does and does not answer
- Confirmed: social play spans PlayStation, Xbox and PC.
- Not established by the listed sources: whether you can disable crossplay in every mode, how matchmaking pools are divided, or whether all progression and purchases follow you between platforms.
- Still required: an internet connection, an Embark ID and a third-party platform account under Embark’s terms.
GeForce NOW is listed as a platform, but cloud availability can vary by country, subscription tier and the store account that owns the game. Treat it as a delivery method to verify locally, not as a separate guarantee that a console or PC purchase automatically transfers everywhere.
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Can I play ARC Raiders solo?
Yes. The official PS5 FAQ says you can play solo or in teams of two or three. Solo play is useful if you prefer to make your own route and risk decisions, or if your friends are offline. It is not an offline mode: you still need the online service, an Embark ID and the relevant platform account, and you remain in the game’s multiplayer ecosystem.
What solo players should expect
- You enter a raid without a pre-made teammate.
- Hostile ARC machines remain part of the environment.
- Other Raiders can still be part of the online match, depending on the current mode and matchmaking rules.
- You do not get a separate single-player campaign simply by selecting solo.
The official descriptions do not promise that every activity is balanced identically for one, two or three players. Before committing valuable gear or a long session, read the mode description shown in your current build, because live-service rules can change.
Do I need PS Plus to play ARC Raiders?
On PlayStation, the US PlayStation product page says PS Plus Essential is required for online multiplayer. Because ARC Raiders is online multiplayer-only, a PS5 player should plan for that subscription requirement in addition to buying the game, unless Sony changes the rule or an applicable local exception appears.
Do not automatically apply the PS Plus rule to Xbox or PC. Subscription requirements, free-to-play exemptions and online-access policies are set by each platform and region. Embark’s terms separately require an internet connection, an Embark ID and a third-party platform account. Verify the current requirement on the store page for your country before checkout.
| Requirement | Who it affects | What is established |
|---|---|---|
| Game purchase outside a promotion | All platforms | ARC Raiders is paid outside time-limited free-play events. |
| Internet connection | All platforms | Required under Embark’s terms; there is no offline campaign. |
| Embark ID | All platforms | Required under Embark’s terms. |
| Third-party platform account | All platforms | Required under Embark’s terms. |
| PS Plus Essential | PS5 in the United States | Required for online multiplayer according to the US PlayStation page. |
| Xbox or PC online subscription | Xbox and PC | Not stated in the reviewed official sources; check the local store and platform policy. |
Which version should you choose: PC, console or cloud?
The best choice depends less on a universal “best” edition than on where your friends play, which hardware you own and which storefront account you want to use. The same core game is listed across the supported options, while the practical setup differs.
| Option | Good fit when… | Check before purchase |
|---|---|---|
| Steam on PC | Your library and friends are already on Steam and your computer meets the store’s current requirements. | Current system requirements, regional price and any account prompts. |
| Epic Games Store on PC | You prefer Epic’s launcher or already use that account. | Regional price, launcher installation and Embark ID setup. |
| PlayStation 5 | You play on PS5 and want console-based social features. | PS5-only availability, PS Plus Essential in the US, local price and network account. |
| Xbox Series X|S | Your group is on Xbox or you prefer Xbox hardware. | Local online-access policy, regional price and the Series X|S listing. |
| GeForce NOW | You want cloud delivery and have a compatible connection and supported store ownership. | Country availability, service tier, latency, supported storefront and local game listing. |
Cross-platform social play means your friends do not all need the same hardware family, but buying on one storefront does not, by itself, prove that every entitlement or save transfers to another. Make the platform decision with your group and your preferred account ecosystem in mind.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to start playing
- Choose a supported platform. Select Steam, Epic Games Store, PS5, Xbox Series X|S or GeForce NOW from the options listed by the official site at arcraiders.com.
- Open the local store page. Confirm the current price, currency, edition, age rating, hardware requirements and any subscription notice for your country. There is no single worldwide price published in the official information cited here.
- Buy the game if no promotion is active. The October 8–12, 2026 free-play window has ended, so a normal purchase is required unless a new, clearly dated promotion is announced.
- Install the game or launch the cloud session. For GeForce NOW, verify that your country, service tier and owning storefront are supported before troubleshooting the game itself.
- Prepare your accounts. Embark’s terms require an Embark ID, an internet connection and a third-party platform account. Follow the sign-in or account-creation prompts shown by your platform.
- Check multiplayer access. On US PS5, confirm that PS Plus Essential is active for online multiplayer. On Xbox and PC, review the local platform policy rather than assuming the PlayStation rule applies.
- Invite your group. Use the game’s current social features to add friends across PlayStation, Xbox and PC. If an invitation fails, confirm that each player is on a supported platform, signed into the intended account and running the same current version.
- Choose solo, duo or trio play. Enter alone if you want a solo raid, or form a team of two or three for cooperative play.
Price, editions and regional differences
The official sources reviewed do not establish one universal current price, a single worldwide edition or a guaranteed physical release. Prices can differ by storefront, currency, taxes, regional policy and temporary discounts. The reliable way to see what you would pay is to open the store page for your platform and country immediately before purchase.
The €0.25 PS5 charge reported for Germany applied during the October 2026 free-play event. It should not be used as a current global price, a standard PS5 fee or a comparison with PC and Xbox. Likewise, the fact that a promotion granted access to the full game did not turn later access into a no-cost permanent license.
Common points of confusion
“I saw that ARC Raiders was free.”
That description most likely referred to the October 8–12, 2026 promotion. Check the dates and time zone: it began October 8 at 09:00 UTC and ended October 12 at 08:00 UTC. Outside a newly announced event, expect to buy the game.
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“Solo” means offline, right?
No. Solo is a one-player entry into an online multiplayer game. Internet access, an Embark ID and a platform account remain necessary.
Crossplay means everything transfers between platforms, correct?
Not necessarily. Embark confirms social play across PlayStation, Xbox and PC, but the cited information does not confirm universal cross-progression, purchase transfer, cloud saves or identical matchmaking controls. Verify those details for your account and platform.
Can I play on PS4?
The official PlayStation listing says ARC Raiders is not available for PS4. The supported console listing is PS5.
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Buy ARC Raiders if you want an online extraction game that supports solo raids and two- or three-player teams, and if your group can use PS5, Xbox Series X|S or PC. Its free-play status was a dated October 2026 promotion, not a permanent model. Choose the storefront where your friends and account already live, verify the local price and subscription rules, and remember that PlayStation, Xbox and PC can socialize together even though platform-specific requirements still apply.
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