20th January 2026
Let’s clear the air right away: if you’ve seen whispers or clickbait headlines screaming that Arc Raiders has sold 12 million copies, take a deep breath. It hasn’t. Not yet. That staggering number is actually tied to its publisher, Nexon, but not to the game itself.
Here’s the real scoop that’s way more interesting than a fake sales figure.
The number making rounds comes from Nexon’s latest financial reports, where they celebrated a massive win: their flagship title, The First Descendant, surpassed 12 million players. In the same breath, they expressed huge confidence in their upcoming titles Arc Raiders being the crown jewel. Some wires got crossed in the gaming news cycle, and that confidence morphed into a mythical sales number for a game that isn’t even out.
But that mistake is telling. It shows the immense pressure and sky-high expectations now placed on this game. So, let’s talk about what’s actually happening.
The Real Story: From PvE to “Extraction-Lite”
Arc Raiders has been on a fascinating journey. It was first revealed as a cooperative, PvE-focused shooter where you fight massive robotic invaders. Cool, right? But the team at Embark Studios (made up of ex-Battlefield devs) wasn’t satisfied.
They’ve spent the last year quietly evolving it into what they’re now calling a “PvPvE survival extraction shooter.” Think less Deep Rock Galactic, and more like the tense, loot-driven vibe of Escape from Tarkov or DMZ, but with a more approachable, sci-fi coat of paint. It’s a risky, bold pivot into one of gaming’s hottest and most competitive genres.
The “Free Loot” & What 12 Million Players Actually Means
So where does “free loot” come in? This is the good part.
Nexon seeing 12 million players flock to The First Descendant is a massive data point. It tells them that there’s a hungry audience for their brand of free-to-play, high-action looter shooters. For Arc Raiders, this likely translates to two things:
- A Aggressive Free-to-Play Model: It’s all but confirmed. Arc Raiders will almost certainly be free-to-download. The “free loot” is you getting the entire core game for nothing. The monetization will come from battle passes, cosmetic skins, and possibly time-savers the standard, but hopefully fair, model for the genre.
- Major Publisher Backing: That 12 million player figure means Nexon has the resources and confidence to support Arc Raiders heavily at launch and beyond. Expect a big marketing push, server stability investment, and a robust post-launch content plan. The “free loot” is the publisher bankrolling a major live-service experience.
Your Arc Raiders FAQs
Zero. It has not been released. The 12 million number is incorrectly attributed from another Nexon game. The game is expected to be free-to-play upon release.
Embark Studios hasn’t given a firm date yet. It’s slated for a 2025 release. Based on their quiet development shift, a beta or early access period later in 2025 seems likely before a full launch.
It’s been announced for PC (via Steam and probably Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
It’s evolved. The core is now PvPvE you and your squad will explore a map, complete objectives, fight AI enemies (the “Raiders”), and also likely compete with or fight other player teams for the best loot before extracting. Tension guaranteed.
The Bottom Line: Why This All Matters
The “12 million copies” mix-up is a symptom of the real story: everyone is watching Arc Raiders. Embark Studios is betting big by pivoting into the extraction shooter arena, and Nexon is backing that bet with serious financial firepower.
This isn’t just another looter shooter. It’s a test:
- For Embark: Can their AAA dev experience create a polished, satisfying, and unique take on extraction?
- For Players: Will it be a fair, rewarding free-to-play model, or a grind-heavy monetization pit?
- For the Genre: Can it attract the mainstream in a way that more hardcore entries haven’t?
Conclusion: The Stage is Set
Forget the fake sales number. The true headline is this: a talented studio, backed by a publisher fresh off a massive win, is retooling a promising game for a shot at the extraction shooter crown. The “free loot” is the game itself, landing in a crowded field where it will need to earn its keep.
The pressure is immense. But so is the potential. Arc Raiders is no longer just a cool-looking PvE game it’s one of 2025’s most intriguing comeback stories in the making. We’re all waiting to see if it can stick the landing.
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What do you think? Is the pivot to extraction shooter a genius move or a risky mistake? Let us know in the comments
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