Arc Raiders Is Almost Here: Launch Times, Editions, and Why It's Not F2P Anymore
Get ready to raid, folks. Embark Studios' slick-looking sci-fi shooter Arc Raiders is practically kicking down the door, launching this Thursday, October 30th, on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. They even dropped a flashy launch trailer to celebrate. Here’s the latest intel you need before jumping in.
First off, when exactly can you play? The servers officially open at 10:30 AM CET on Thursday, October 30th. However, it's worth noting that the PlayStation Store countdown currently points to 11:00 AM CET. The devs have mentioned times might vary slightly by platform, and the store time should be accurate for that specific platform. Regardless, be prepared for potential delays due to server strain – launch days are always chaotic. There is no Early Access period; everyone starts together.
Good news for the impatient: Preload is live now on all platforms, as announced on October 28th, so you can get the download out of the way early.
Wait, I Thought This Was Free?
Now, you might remember Arc Raiders being announced way back when as a free-to-play title. Well, plans changed. At Gamescom 2024, the devs announced they pivoted to a premium model. Executive Producer Aleksander Grondal basically said the game they were making just fit better as a paid product, giving them more "creative freedom" for long-term development. Translation: F2P monetization is a pain in the ass, and they'd rather just sell us the game. Fair enough, honestly.
Choose Your Raider Package
So, what's it gonna cost you? There are two editions up for pre-order. The Standard Edition is a pretty reasonable $39.99 (€39.99) and just gets you the base game. No frills.
The Deluxe Edition bumps the price to $59.99 (€59.99). For the extra cash, you get the "Wanderer" cosmetic set (Legendary "Valente" outfit, "Pathfinder" backpack, "Rolled Blanket" charm, another character cosmetic), a Finger Guns emote, a "Scrappy" skin, and 2,400 Raider Tokens.
Pre-Order Shinies
If you pre-order either edition, you snag two bonus packs. The "Lucky Duckling" pack gives you a Chick backpack and a Golden Rubber Ducky charm (because of course). The "Brawler" pack includes Boxing Glove backpack bling, an "Injured Face" cosmetic style, and a Fist Bump emote. Pre-ordering the Deluxe Edition also throws in an exclusive "Astro" cosmetic set.
Crossplay Confirmed (with an Opt-Out)
Good news for playing with friends on different systems: crossplay between PC, Xbox, and PlayStation is enabled by default. However, if you're on console and really don't want to face PC players, you can disable crossplay. Be warned, though: disabling it means you'll only match with players on your own console family (PS5 with PS5, Xbox with Xbox). There is no option for console-only crossplay that lumps PlayStation and Xbox together while excluding PC.
What About... The Future?
Embark seems pretty confident. They're apparently calling this a "10-year game" internally, suggesting they have long-term plans. But don't expect a detailed roadmap at launch. They haven't released one yet, saying they'll communicate post-launch content plans later.
My guess? They want to see how the launch goes first. But signs are looking good. The game's been hovering near the top of the PSN pre-order charts, and the technical tests apparently had huge interest. If you didn't catch the playtests and want some pointers before diving in, there are already some beginner tips floating around online.
So, there you have it. Arc Raiders drops Thursday. Decide if that Deluxe Edition bling is worth the extra cash, get your preload sorted, and get ready to shoot some robots. I'm cautiously optimistic about this one.
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