Arc Raiders Player Count Drops Massively on Steam

Arc Raiders had a huge launch, but its player numbers have taken a big hit over the past few months. The extraction shooter has lost close to 80% of its Steam players since the beginning of 2026.

Why Did This Happen?

Data from SteamDB shows the game reached an all-time peak of around 482,000 players on November 16, 2025, shortly after release. It stayed strong through the end of the year, with over 428,000 players still active on January 1, 2026. A few days later, it even climbed to more than 466,000.

Since then, the numbers have steadily dropped. As of April 16, the game recorded a 24-hour peak of just over 90,000 players. That is a 79% decrease compared to New Year’s Day.

Even with that decline, Arc Raiders is still doing better than many other multiplayer games. It currently ranks among the top 15 most-played titles on Steam, ahead of games like Overwatch and Marvel Rivals.

Console player numbers are not included here, so the total player base is likely higher.

There are a few reasons behind the drop. A big one is the usual slowdown that happens months after a game launches, as players move on to other releases.

On top of that, many dedicated players say the game is starting to feel repetitive. The developers have added new enemies, challenges, and quests throughout 2026, but some players feel the updates have not added enough depth.

Another point of criticism is the game’s focus on PvE. Some players looking for more PvP action have started trying other shooters instead.

There is still hope for a comeback. The upcoming Riven Tides update, expected later in April, will introduce a new large Arc enemy and a brand-new map. If it delivers, it could bring players back and give the game a boost again.