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Embark Studios responds as the hit extraction shooter passes 330,000 concurrent players on Steam.

A Meteoric Launch Hits a Snag

The launch of ARC Raiders has been nothing short of explosive, but that success has come with a few bumps along the way. Since its release on October 30, the new extraction shooter from Embark Studios has attracted hundreds of thousands of players eager to dive into the Rust Belt. Unfortunately, the sheer demand has proven too much for the servers to handle, leaving many players stuck in login queues and facing long matchmaking times.

Over the weekend, ARC Raiders surpassed 330,000 concurrent players on Steam, placing it among the platform’s most played games, trailing just behind heavyweights like Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and Battlefield 6 RedSec. That’s an impressive feat for a new title, especially one that isn’t free-to-play. However, the massive influx has led to widespread reports of connection issues, matchmaking errors, and voice chat failures.

Login Queues and Matchmaking Chaos

Players began noticing problems early on November 3, with reports flooding into both Reddit and the official ARC Raiders Discord. Many described being stuck in long queues or booted from active matches, unable to rejoin. Some even found themselves in parties with random teammates despite having crossplay disabled and queuing solo.

Embark Studios has since confirmed the issues through its Discord server, noting that the problems affect servers, voice chat, and the party system. As a temporary fix, the developers have implemented a login queue “to mitigate issues related to forming parties and using voice channels,” which has resulted in even longer wait times for some players.

One player joked that ARC Raiders had become a “queue simulator,” while others shared memes about their frustration as they waited 10 minutes or more to get back into the action. Even popular Twitch streamers were spotted staring at matchmaking screens, waiting for the servers to stabilise.

Developers Acknowledge the Problem

Embark’s community manager addressed the situation in a Discord announcement, assuring fans that the team is aware of the instability and is actively working on a fix. While there’s no official timeline yet for when the servers will return to normal, updates continue to be shared through the game’s official channels.

Despite the issues, it’s clear that ARC Raiders is resonating strongly with players. Its mix of slick third-person shooting, atmospheric environments, and co-op extraction gameplay has positioned it as one of the most promising titles in the genre.

Still One of Steam’s Biggest Games Right Now

Even with the ongoing disruptions, ARC Raiders has maintained impressive player numbers. As of today, it’s still holding steady with over 300,000 concurrent players on Steam, making it one of the top four most-played games on the platform.

Considering its competition includes long-standing giants like CS2 and Dota 2, this performance shows just how strong the demand is for Embark’s new title. The studio previously hosted a successful “Server Slam” event before launch, and the first few days post-release went smoothly, but this weekend’s surge appears to have pushed the infrastructure to its limits.

What’s Next for ARC Raiders Players

While Embark hasn’t said whether players will receive compensation for the downtime, many in the community are hopeful for some form of goodwill gesture once the situation stabilises. In the meantime, players are being encouraged to be patient and stay tuned to the official Discord for the latest updates.

For those stuck waiting, it might be a good opportunity to plan your next run through the Rust Belt, brush up on ARC Raiders’ best loadouts, or explore guides on how to maximise your stash and inventory space once the servers come back online.

With such a massive start, a few hiccups were probably inevitable, but if Embark can quickly steady the ship, ARC Raiders could cement itself as one of 2025’s biggest multiplayer hits.