Can Arc Raiders breathe life into extraction shooters? 

Arc RaidersThe release date may mean more than the arrival of another extraction shooter. This might signal a shift in a genre that, for this writer, seems a bit uninspiring. After all, how many times can you participate in loot runs and come back inspired for the next one? Once you’re ready, your stash is maxed out, and you know how to craft the components, then what?

It’s going to get old eventually. So the answer perhaps depends more on the scale of the world itself. Enter Arc Raidersa pull shooter where stealth is fun and you don’t always need to shoot. The human or AI enemies are either tricky or terrifying, the scenery is captivating, and the story is compelling. Here’s why it’s so refreshing – and absolutely necessary.

The escapee recaps

• Arc Raiders is a pull-and-shoot shooter, but it feels beyond the boundaries of the genre.
• The first person may be usual for extract titles, but this is not the case for Arc Raiders.
• A potential ten-year plan means huge potential for an expanded world.
• As a crossplay-compatible mining game, Arc Raiders seems unprecedented.

No first person mode

Questions about Arc Raiders offering a first-person mode were circulating before its launch. Honestly, even aside from any implementation difficulties, ripping titles don’t need it. Yes, Escape from Tarkov is a first person title, just like Dark and darker. But as for Hell Divers 2 (a semi-extracted title), Arc Raiders uses player characters for worldbuilding.

In a story as old as the MMORPG genre, it’s pretty captivating to connect with a character that you’ve stylized and can see in the world. Such character projection connects you to the character himself, but also to your place in the universe and in a larger tradition. Oddly enough, a third-person pull shooter adds connectivity while providing additional benefits.

Third person also allows for greater awareness in the game. With aerial enemies like the Wasp, Hornet, Rocketeer, and the giant, gruesome Leaper, over-the-shoulder work works. To go further, third person is a good way to see player animations. And the sight of your character sliding down a steep slope is just really cool. So this writer is fully behind this.

A world over 10 years?

Even though all the details of the world as a whole remain unclear, Arc Raiders“The playtest did enough to keep many intrigued. Naturally, there will be a “these are the cards you have to farm and mine over and over again” type element. However, the world and lore of Arc Raidersthe Rust Belt region and the colony of Speranza seem to be part of something much larger.

As with Escape from Tarkovyou have a stash to build, and it will be interesting to see how Embark expands on these scalable elements. But Arc RaidersThe world and civilizations believe it is worth investing in. There seems to be a lot of growth to be had, and this has even been supported by feedback from the game’s developers.

More than extract

The part of Arc Raiders The release I’m most looking forward to isn’t even the loot. It is the world itself. While fetch titles prioritize looted item levels (and Arc Raiders does too), there is more to do. The combination of a dystopian and RP-friendly world tends to make encounters between humans and AI as beloved as collecting shiny scraps.

For example, you can find a random friendly player to team up with or experience a real race against time in a survival game. We should look at other genres and worlds available on Arc Raiders‘ (Xbox X/S, PS5, PC) for similarities. DayZbecause you simply don’t know what encounters await you. PUBG is another. Hell Divers for enemy AI chaos, perhaps.

It is this approach to mixing genres and gameplay that makes Arc Raiders feel painfully familiar. But it is also urgent to change. Are there missions to complete during each excursion? Yes. But they are not essential to feeling like you have won. You can try to eliminate a robotic threat or another raider solo or in a team. Or hopefully you can use the coverage and mobility to get home.

Cross-platform champion?

Let’s think about multiple platforms. Can you name another mining-themed title that is both cross-platform and so anticipated? Hell Miscellaneous 2? Maybe. But Arc Raiders Likewise, PS5, Xbox and PC players can all play against each other and the hype is real.

That says a lot about the impact this game could have. Is it completely new in its fundamental elements? No, and I’m sure most players will feel similarities to other games, but the anticipation across all platforms is tangible and such a unifying experience feels special. Arc Raiders maybe this is the one we’ve been waiting for.

This unit doesn’t feel forced either, as cross-platform play can be disabled. And the mouse and keyboard don’t seem to offer a huge advantage; it’s not a port, after all. So whether it’s movement, PvP, or jumping on flying robots, a controller feels as responsive as anything. Final Thoughts

So, does Arc Raiders to be the goose that lays the golden eggs of extraction shooters? Maybe. It certainly has a shine and depth that some of the most interesting loot possesses. Personally, I believe Arc Raiders will be the mining title to beat for some time to come. Maybe not for ten years, but for a few years. Hopefully, by then, we will see a developed world realizing its potential.

Of course, mining titles are about achieving victory. In other words, escape with the loot you obtained and outwit your enemies. Arc Raiders is an experience that seems poised to rise above and beyond gender stereotypes – and that’s exactly what it must do to survive. So let’s go. The machine invasion that is the scourge of Topside will not and will not extricate itself.

Ask the Escapee