The popular extraction shooter ARC Raiders has achieved a monumental milestone, surpassing 12 million players since its launch in October. To celebrate this success and thank its dedicated community, developer Embark Studios is giving away an exclusive in-game reward, but the clock is ticking for players to claim it.
A Golden Thank You to the Raiders
In a press release, executive producer Patrick Söderlund expressed gratitude, stating the milestone was "entirely owed to the players." He highlighted how the community's passion and feedback have been instrumental in shaping the game's development. As a direct token of appreciation, the studio is distributing a free Golden Raider Tool to all players who logged into the game before the cutoff.
How and When to Claim Your Reward
The eligibility window for this free gift is extremely tight. Any player who booted up ARC Raiders before January 13, 2026, will automatically find the Golden Raider Tool in their inventory. For those who haven't yet tried the game, there is a final opportunity. The deadline to claim the item is 12AM GMT on the night of January 13. Simply logging into the game once before this time will secure the reward.
This golden version of the standard tool used to open loot containers is a permanent cosmetic item, ensuring players can showcase their early supporter status regularly.
Dominating the Shooter Landscape
ARC Raiders' success is not just about milestone numbers. The game has demonstrated remarkable staying power on platforms like Steam, where it maintains a 24-hour peak of around 325,000 players, climbing to over 400,000 on weekends. This performance places it firmly ahead of other major recent shooter releases, a significant achievement for a new intellectual property in the notoriously challenging extraction shooter genre.
This triumph sets a high bar for upcoming titles in the same space, notably Bungie's Marathon, which is scheduled for release later in the year. Based on ARC Raiders' current dominance, new competitors will have a formidable task in winning over its established player base.
The combination of a massive player milestone and a time-sensitive reward underscores ARC Raiders' explosive impact on the gaming scene and the strong bond Embark Studios is fostering with its community.
