Embark Studios' latest project, ARC Raiders, is steadily building momentum on Steam, widening its user base with surprising speed. Since its launch on the 30th, the game has amassed over 40,000 reviews in just five days, maintaining a Very Positive status—90% of its 42,815 reviews are glowing—which is a robust performance by any metric.

ARC Raiders is an extraction shooter where you step into the boots of a 'Raider', scavenging for resources while fending off the mechanical menace known as 'ARC'. While many feared the genre's notoriously steep learning curve would be a barrier to entry, the game’s exceptional audiovisual polish and rock-solid optimisation have earned it praise, making it stand out even against other recent high-profile releases.

What’s particularly fascinating is how the game design pivots away from pure PvP, shifting the focus toward fighting the ARC. This has fostered a unique culture where players exchange "Don't shoot" emotes to forge spontaneous alliances. Thanks to this organic cooperation, newcomers can easily dip their toes into the core thrill of extraction shooters—the heart-pounding tension of looting and surviving.

Players are also noting its accessibility, with many remarking that the "short, casual-friendly play sessions make it easy to jump in without stress." Others appreciate the low-stakes environment, noting, "Even if you lose everything, the basic starting gear means you aren't afraid to try again." Furthermore, players are frequently citing the "genuinely impressive in-game graphics that boost immersion" and the fact that "the lack of veteran 'sweats' makes it a great time to start."

However, it isn't all sunshine and rainbows; the matchmaking system is drawing some flak. Some players have pointed out that being dropped into sessions already in progress after finishing their own farming runs disrupts the flow of play. Additionally, the steep pricing of premium skins has become a common gripe among the English-speaking community.

Elsewhere, the day of November 5th saw the release of Football Manager 2026 and Europa Universalis 5, with initial impressions trickling in. While Europa Universalis 5 is facing criticism regarding UI and optimisation, players admit the series' signature strategic depth remains intact. Conversely, Football Manager 2026 is struggling, facing harsh criticism for its clunky, non-PC-friendly UI and technical hiccups.

Meanwhile, the shooter genre continues to dominate the top 20 daily peak concurrent players list. REPO, which saw a temporary spike in players thanks to its recent monster update, has cooled off significantly, sliding from 9th place last week to 18th this week.