Summer Game Fest had plenty of exciting announcements, andARC Raidersfinally getting an official launch date was one of the highlights of the event.ARC Raidershas been a highly anticipated release, and now that there is a solid date to look forward to, eager gamers won’t have to wait much longer to discover what the extraction shooter’s world is all about.
ARC Raiders' Summer Game Fest trailer was a thrilling cinematic sneak peek at the game, and with its confirmed October 30 release date, the title is promising even more to look forward to this fall. As exciting asARC Raiders' release date is, though, it could have a major hurdle waiting on the horizon.Marathonis set to launch a month earlier, on September 23, and it may prove to either beARC Raiders' biggest competition or serve as a huge help.
ARC Raider’s Success Could Hinge On How Well Marathon Performs
Marathon is Caught in a Tricky Spot
After a long wait, Bungie finally revealed a fresh trailer forMarathonin April, along with a confirmed release date. While the initial announcement ignited plenty of excitement from gamers, the game has also faced significant controversy. From the confirmation that the game plagiarized art toreports fromMarathonAlpha testersbelieving that the project should be delayed until next year, Bungie’s extraction shooter may struggle at launch.
ARC Raiders' developer Embark Studios saw success back in 2023 with the free-to-play titleThe Finals.
There are even reports thatBungie has noMarathonmarketing plans for the next quarter, which could potentially hint at a delay. Nothing has been confirmed by the developer, though, so as far as it’s known,Marathonis still set to launch in late September. However, despite these controversies, there is still the chance thatMarathonlaunches in the fall with strong numbers. If that’s the case, then it may be difficult forARC Raidersto attract extraction shooter fans if they are already occupied withMarathon.
On the flip side, though, there is also just as much of a chance thatMarathon’s launch doesn’t go according to plan. IfMarathonfails to stick its landing, then this actually serves as a huge benefit toARC Raiders, as it puts the game front and center in the extraction shooter genre. Another important detail to note is thatARC Raidershas received much better feedbackin its playtests thanMarathonhas. So, ifMarathonlaunches in a less-than-desirable state, then that is bound to only increase the hype forARC Raiders.
ARC Raiderswas originally announced back in 2021 at The Game Awards, whileMarathonwas first announced in 2023.
Even if ARC Raiders is a Hit, There Are Two Juggernauts On the Horizon
Both of these games have yet to reveal specific release dates, but fall 2025 is highly likely, especially forBlack Ops 7.Call of Dutygames tend to launch in the fall, so as the months pass, Activision is bound to announce a specific release date soon. When it comes to the latter, EA has confirmed thatBattlefield 6will arrive by March 2026. This allows a little bit more time forARC Raidersto breathe, but these two heavy-hitters present major competition.
Battlefield 6andthe futuristicBlack Ops 7may not be extraction shooters, but they still draw massive multiplayer numbers. There’s still the chance thatARC Raiders' fresh take on the extraction shooter genre and being a brand-new IP makes it more appealing to gamers, but only time will tell.
