Palworld Dev Praises ARC Raiders as “Most Technically Impressive Game of 2025”

ARC Raiders has stormed onto the scene with record-breaking numbers, peaking at over 350,000 concurrent players during its launch weekend.

What makes this achievement stand out is that ARC Raiders isn’t a free-to-play title; it’s a premium game priced at $39.99. Despite the price tag, demand was so overwhelming that servers buckled under the pressure, leaving many players stuck in queues. According to data from Gamalytic, which tracks Steam sales, the game has already sold more than 1.6 million copies in just three days on the platform. If accurate, that figure translates to over $60 million in revenue for Embark Studios in less than a week.

Palworld Dev Praises ARC Raiders

The success hasn’t gone unnoticed. Beyond the impressive sales, ARC Raiders is also earning praise from fellow developers. One of the most notable voices is John “Bucky” Buckley, publishing manager at PocketPair and known for his work on Palworld.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Bucky called ARC Raiders “the most technically impressive game I’ve played all year.” He acknowledged that while roguelike favorites like Megabonk and Ball x Pit have been the most fun for him personally, Embark’s shooter is a “technical marvel” that sets a new bar for Unreal Engine 5 development.

That praise carries weight because Unreal Engine 5 has often been criticized for performance issues, particularly stuttering. Bucky addressed this directly, saying it’s become trendy to dismiss games as “UE slop,” but ARC Raiders proves what’s possible when the engine is used to its full potential.

"It’s trendy to say “eww UE slop” to games these days, because blaming engines is “in”, but Arc Raiders might be the new benchmark for UE development. In awe of what they’ve achieved."

Of course, not everything has been perfect. Some players have raised concerns about cosmetic pricing, but overall, the game currently holds a “Very Positive” rating on Steam. Embark Studios has also acknowledged ongoing matchmaking delays, assuring fans that fixes are on the way. With a packed roadmap already in place, it seems clear the developers are committed to building on this strong start.