Will Your ARC Raiders Server Slam Progress Count On Day One?
Last chance to drop in before launch: Embark Studios is running a Server Slam open beta for ARC Raiders from October 17–19, rolling out new features and stress-testing the servers ahead of the extraction shooter’s October 30 release.
Embark is finally rolling ARC Raiders out the door on October 30. But before the extraction shooter hits 1.0, there is one last open beta weekend to kick the tires and bash the servers: the Server Slam, running October 17–19. Quick answer to the big question up front: no, your progress from this test will not carry into launch. There is, however, one cosmetic freebie that will.
Dates, progress, and what you actually keep
The Server Slam runs October 17–19. It is a focused test of specific systems, not a full progression build. Translation: you can mess around, level some stuff, and try new toys, but none of that XP or gear will move over to the October 30 launch.
'Progress resets, but drip doesn't.'
If you jump in, you will bank the exclusive Server Slammer backpack. It will auto-unlock in the full game after launch. If you care about cosmetics, that is your souvenir.
What is new in this Server Slam build
This is not a rerun of the last playtest. Embark is using the weekend to showcase how much has changed (and to make sure the backend does not melt). The standout additions:
- New map: Dam Battlegrounds — a big, storm-battered zone with flooded lowlands, creepy research sites, and dangerous Queen encounters.
- Quests from Speranza's traders — think mission-style objectives to nudge you around the map.
- Daily Feats — bite-size challenges to keep you busy between runs.
- Raider Deck system — a clearer intro to the deck of challenges that pay out rewards as you complete them.
- Early- and mid-tier gear — new weapons, crafting stations, and blueprints to experiment with, hinting at a much deeper progression loop waiting at launch.
- What is locked (on purpose): high-tier crafting, expeditions, and trials are off the table for this test, even though some of that showed up in earlier betas. This weekend is about core stability and the early/mid game.
Why test this close to launch?
Two reasons. One, to stress the servers and systems so day one does not implode when a ton of players pile in. Two, to gauge whether the buzz from the first beta is still there with other big shooters swirling around — BF6 included. Every extra body in the Server Slam helps Embark tune performance and squash issues before the October 30 release.
If you played the last beta or you are coming in fresh, this weekend is the low-risk way to enlist, resist, and nudge ARC Raiders a little closer to what it should be on day one — even if you are not taking your loot with you.