I’m glad ARC Raiders is launching with this beloved Xbox and PC feature — it’s leaving the door open for Game Pass, too

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I’m really excited about ARC Raiders, a new shooter coming out this fall. It’s from Embark Studios, the team behind The Finals – you might remember that one, it was a super popular free-to-play game last year with crazy fast action and everything being completely destructible. ARC Raiders is a bit different, though – it’s a third-person, player-versus-player-versus-environment extraction shooter, so it sounds like a really unique experience.

Over the past year, the team behind ARC Raiders has been testing the game with players through private playtests, gathering feedback and building excitement. This testing period is now leading up to a public beta called the “Server Slam” in mid-October, before the game officially launches on October 30th.

Fans are incredibly excited to play the game when it launches on Xbox Series X|S, Steam, Epic Games Store, and PS5. And now, it’s been revealed that it will also be available on the Xbox app for Windows, also known as Xbox on PC.

Embark hasn’t officially said so, but it’s now clear that ARC Raiders will be available on PC through the Xbox store in addition to Steam and the Epic Games Store. This is great news for PC players who were previously limited to those two platforms.

The Xbox store listing also revealed that ARC Raiders will be part of the Xbox Play Anywhere program. This means if you buy the game digitally, you’ll automatically own it on both your Xbox console and on PC through the Xbox app, as long as you use the same Microsoft account.

Xbox Play Anywhere lets you continue your game progress whether you’re playing on your Xbox or on PC. This is especially helpful in games where you earn and upgrade equipment over time, because anything you unlock on one platform is available on the other.

Xbox Play Anywhere lets you continue your game progress whether you’re playing on your Xbox or on PC. This is especially helpful in games where you earn and upgrade equipment over time, because anything you unlock on one platform is available on the other.

Because ARC Raiders is available on the Xbox PC app, it’s well-positioned to potentially join Xbox Game Pass. Game Pass doesn’t work with Steam or the Epic Games Store-it’s exclusive to the Xbox app. Having the game on the Xbox app means Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers on both consoles and PCs could play it.

Currently, there’s no indication that ARC Raiders will be added to Game Pass, so don’t count on it. However, it’s still possible – many multiplayer games eventually come to the service after being available elsewhere, often to attract more players.

It’s fantastic news that Embark’s new extraction shooter is coming to Xbox on PC. The Xbox Play Anywhere feature is a real benefit for players, letting them play seamlessly on different platforms and save money, and we hope to see more games support it. Plus, making the game available through Game Pass on both console and PC will be great for subscribers.

ARC Raiders is shaping up to be a strong competitor to games like Escape From Tarkov, and it actually gained more attention than Bungie’s new extraction shooter, Marathon, during its beta test. Players are really enjoying the game’s bright, futuristic look and its world where robots have taken over after a disaster. I expect a very popular open beta and a massive launch next month.

The upcoming Server Slam playtest lets you try ARC Raiders for free before it officially launches, though pre-orders are available now if you’d like to purchase it ahead of time. The game will cost $40 on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5. If you pre-order, you’ll also receive a special backpack and rubber ducky cosmetic. A Deluxe Edition is also available for $60, which includes extra unlockable content.

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2025-09-24 00:40