The decision to convert ARC Raiders from a free-to-play experience to a paid game priced at $40 came after careful study of successful market examples, with Helldivers 2 being a primary model.

It was explained that the team wanted to deliver a game where players feel they get real value for their money, especially since it focuses entirely on the co-op experience and does not include a story mode.

Sales Exceeded 12 Million

This strategy paid off quickly, as the game recorded sales exceeding 12 million copies during the last weekend of the year.

This included nearly 7 million copies sold on the Steam platform, placing it at the top of sales charts at the end of 2025.

Best Multiplayer Game

The game also received a strong score of 86 on Metacritic based on 57 reviews.

Furthermore, it was crowned with the award for Best Multiplayer Game at The Game Awards ceremony, beating out prominent titles like Battlefield 6 and Elden Ring: Nightreign.

The Game Awards

The Game Awards is an annual awards ceremony founded in 2014 by journalist Geoff Keighley, celebrating achievements in the video game industry. It has grown into a major global event, blending awards presentations with exclusive game announcements and musical performances, effectively acting as both an industry showcase and a preview of future releases.