Last Chance: When ARC Raiders Playtest Ends
Embark Studios is cracking open ARC Raiders for a 48-hour Server Slam from October 17–19, before sealing it back up until the global launch on October 30, 2025. Jump in now or start the countdown.
Short version: ARC Raiders is getting one last big shakeout before launch, and the clock is already ticking. Embark Studios flipped the switch on a Server Slam playtest running Oct 17 through Oct 19, and once it shuts down, that is it until the full release on Oct 30, 2025.
So what is this, and when does it actually end?
This is a wide-open stress test for the extraction shooter version of ARC Raiders. No keys, no invites, no gatekeeping. It is purely to smash the servers, find the ugly bugs, and clean things up for launch. The window is small, and it does not end at midnight everywhere. Here is exactly when the playtest closes depending on where you live:
- US West Coast: 8:00 AM PDT on Oct 19
- US East Coast: 11:00 AM EDT on Oct 19
- Brazil: 12:00 PM BRT on Oct 19
- UK: 4:00 PM BST on Oct 19
- India: 8:30 PM IST on Oct 19
- China: 11:00 PM CT (China Time) on Oct 19
- Japan: 12:00 AM JST on Oct 20
- Australia: 2:00 AM AEDT on Oct 20
How to jump in
It is dead simple: log in to Steam or your console’s store, pull up the ARC Raiders page, and join the playtest. That is it. No codes, no pre-registration, no weird hoops.
What carries over? Nothing
If you play this weekend, cool, but do not expect an edge on day one. Embark has confirmed progress from the Server Slam will not roll into the final build. Think of it as practice reps and a free look at the current balance, not a head start.
Can you play again before launch?
No. Once the Server Slam wraps on Oct 19 (Oct 20 in a few regions), ARC Raiders goes dark until the global launch on Oct 30, 2025. Also worth flagging: pre-orders will not unlock early access. You can snag cosmetic or in-game items that way, but you will not get to play before the 30th.
Could the test get extended?
If the turnout stays strong, I would not be shocked if Embark tacks on an extra day, but do not plan around it. Treat these posted times as final.
Bottom line: if you want a feel for how ARC Raiders is shaping up in extraction mode, you have a very small window. Set an alarm, sync those time zones, and squeeze in a few raids while the doors are open.