Released on October 30, 2025, ARC Raiders immediately garnered enthusiastic discussion from players, hailed as another classic in the shooting game genre. ARC Raiders has consistently attracted players with its sci-fi setting and unique PvPvE action.
To date, ARC Raiders has sold over 12 million copies. This is a remarkable achievement for a game released less than a year ago. Furthermore, ARC Raiders boasts fierce competition and a very high level of player activity.
On March 17, 2026, ARC Raiders released version 1.20.0, which should have been exciting news. However, the update was followed by a large-scale server outage, causing connection problems. Immediately, discussions about ARC Raiders became mixed.
Next, we'll review the development of ARC Raiders, focusing on the major changes and server outages in version 1.20.0, to explore the main reasons for its current success.
Il Toro Balancing
The latest 1.20.0 version primarily changes the balance of Il Toro. Due to an increase in Damage loss from Falloff from 40% to 50% and a reduction in Pellet Damage from 7.5 to 7, Il Toro now boasts higher DPS and effectiveness at long range, but its damage decreases in long-range combat. This effect is more pronounced when used with a choke.
Given Il Toro's rarity status, version 1.20.0 also saw changes to its rate of fire and reload time:
- Base Fire-Rate: 43 → 38
- Base Dispersion: 4.5 → 6
- Total Reload Time: 4.3s → 5.7s
Both Looping Reload Entry and Looping Reload Time have been increased. These changes require more skill from the player; you must make full use of cover, move nimbly, and seize every opportunity to defeat your opponent.
Now that you understand these attribute changes, you're probably eager to try out Il Toro and enjoy the increased gameplay possibilities it offers.
New Appearances
Furthermore, the studio has introduced a new Rawde Outfit and two new hairstyles, providing more options for customizing your in-game appearance.
Bug Fixes
In addition, several issues have been fixed. For example, audio issues caused by the destruction of Comets and Fireballs were fixed, an issue where players got stuck in Dam Controlled Access Zone after being pushed through walls was resolved, and collision detection was added near the elevator on the east side of Spaceport and under the pipes.
Energy Clips Price Adjustment
Finally, the price of Energy Clips was significantly reduced from 1000 gold to 200. This helps balance its value compared to other items.
Server Outage
With the release of version 1.20.0, many players experienced problems such as being unable to log in, disconnecting, and being unable to find matchmaking. Real-time data showed a sharp drop in online players after the server outage, reaching only 24% of the peak online player count (479,500) within 24 hours. The studio received numerous complaints during this period, 88% of which were about server connectivity issues.
This significantly dampened player enthusiasm for the update. After the outage, players sought technical assistance and complained about the game's problems on game forums and social media groups. This negatively impacted the reputation of ARC Raiders to some extent. This isn't the first time ARC Raiders has experienced game glitches and player complaints. After each issue, ARC Raiders has consistently offered sincere improvement plans, which is why they have such a highly active player community.
ARC Raiders' Methods for Maintaining Player Engagement
At launch, ARC Raiders used AI-generated voice packs. These voices were synthesized from real human voices using a text-to-speech tool, resulting in a lack of realism in the player experience. This AI-generated voice sparked criticism from players who felt the voices lacked genuine emotion and emotional nuance.
In response, Embark Studios accepted criticism from players and professionals, acknowledging that AI voices cannot replace human voice acting and that there is a fundamental difference that impacts game quality. Embark Studios took action, modifying the voices by inviting real humans to re-enact the AI-generated voices, thus avoiding reliance on synthesized audio. This move was well-received by players.
Embark Studios' proactive approach to listening to player feedback and criticism isn't limited to this instance. The recent 1.20.0 update, which included changes to Il Toro, also incorporated player requests.
Besides prioritizing the player community, ARC Raiders continues to improve game quality and expand its content. Around the same time as the 1.19.0 update, Embark Studios released a content roadmap. This content update aims to increase player engagement and enrich the experience after each update. Simultaneously, Embark promised new content in April 2026, including new ARC Raiders blueprints, ARC bots, dynamic map conditions, bonus rewards, and a completely new map.
In fact, server instability is a common problem for shooter games. While this issue does impact the player experience and can lead to decreased player activity, ARC Raiders has effectively mitigated the impact through continuous content updates and patches.
Therefore, ARC Raiders' current success is inseparable from the studio's hard work. It actively responds to player feedback and continuously improves the game's quality, making every update to ARC Raiders closely watched by players.
ARC Raiders' Future Path
Now, all eyes are on the upcoming content update in April. Will there be server instability issues similar to 1.20.0 update? Will player feedback be incorporated into changes? Will new game highlights be introduced to attract players? Each update strengthens the bond between existing players and attracts a new wave of new ones.
Occasional game glitches are actually a boost, helping ARC Raiders go further and wider. Your journey has only just begun.