The Finals studio's new extraction shooter Arc Raiders is doing a "server slam" beta next month to make sure it's "polished, balanced, and ready for action" before release

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Arc Raiders releases on October 30, but you'll be able to play as early as October 17

Arc Raiders
(Image credit: Embark)

Arc Raiders, the upcoming extraction shooter from The Finals developer Embark Studios, is putting its servers to the test with a free beta next month.

Described as an Arc Raiders Server Slam in a press release, the open beta kicks off Friday, October 17 and runs until Sunday, October 19. It'll be available to everyone on PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store with no pre-registration required.

"We're excited to welcome Raiders to the Server Slam — this is where we'll really put ARC Raiders through its paces ahead of full launch," says Embark executive producer Aleksander Grøndal. "Our goal is simple: make sure that on October 30, when the servers go live, every player experiences the game exactly as we've intended — polished, balanced, and ready for action. Thanks for joining us — let's prepare to go topside."

Pre-Order Trailer | ARC Raiders - YouTube Pre-Order Trailer | ARC Raiders - YouTube
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ARC Raiders was announced in 2021 as a free-to-play co-op third-person shooter, but in 2023 was changed to a PvPvE extraction shooter, receiving a closed alpha later that year. Then, after ditching the free-to-play model and opting for a $40 price tag, Embark held an open "tech test" in October 2024 and another this May, and now, players will have one more chance to try out the game for free before its full release.

If you do participate in this final beta, you'll have an exclusive backpack cosmetic waiting for you in the full game should you decide to buy it.

For everything on the horizon, don't miss our extensive guide to new games of 2025 and beyond.

Jordan Gerblick
Jordan Gerblick

After earning an English degree from ASU, I worked as a corporate copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. I got my big break here in 2019 with a freelance news gig, and I was hired on as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer in 2021. That means I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my home office, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.

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