ARC Raiders, which stormed the scene last October to hit 21st place and sparked a local craze for extraction shooters, is now teetering on the edge of disappearing from the Gamemeca rankings. After peaking in late November, it has suffered a six-week slide, slipping out of the top 30 in early December. This week, it fell another 10 spots to land at 46th, barely clinging to the charts.

Since its release, key metrics like PC bang usage, search volume, and streaming viewership have all trended downward. The most significant crater is in viewership, where the genre veteran Escape from Tarkov continues to hold the upper hand. The spotlight was also stolen by other titles this week, such as Genshin Impact, which grabbed attention with a new update reveal on the 2nd.

That said, the global picture for ARC Raiders remains remarkably buoyant. Its Steam concurrent player count is holding steady in the 300,000 to 400,000 range. While not an official figure, market analysts at Alinea Analytics estimate that the game has moved 12 million units across PC and consoles, boasting 3.2 million daily active users. It remains a hot topic in gaming communities worldwide, too.

In essence, while the game’s core firepower remains intact, it has struggled to maintain momentum in domestic streaming circles. ARC Raiders’ distinct appeal—toning down the aggressive PvP typical of extraction shooters—was a smart move to lower the barrier for newcomers. However, for those watching on the sidelines, it can feel a bit lukewarm. Some players have even remarked that the gameplay lacks a certain punch. It seems the game is in dire need of a 'dopamine' injection to shake things up.

Released for the New Year in 2026 and opening for pre-download on the 7th, Lineage Classic has debuted at 42nd. Its search volume has spiked, likely driven by the nostalgia of reviving the original Lineage. Furthermore, the industry is watching closely to see if NCSoft, having successfully put Aion 2 on the right track, can replicate that feat with this next project.

The defining feature of Lineage Classic is its return to a subscription-based model. NCSoft pivoted from subscriptions to a freemium model in 2019, but the subsequent heavy monetization left many players frustrated. With Aion 2 having raked in 100 billion won in revenue within six weeks thanks to its Battle Pass-centric model, this shift for their flagship IP feels like a calculated attempt at a corporate makeover. Whether this leads to the same success as Aion 2 remains the million-dollar question.

In the mid-tier, Path of Exile 2 has slipped for the second consecutive week, stalling at 24th. As the full release date keeps drifting, its new league—launched on December 13—has been met with a lukewarm reception, offering little chance for a rebound. A hotfix over the weekend reduced the drop rate of 'Divine Orbs' in the core temple content, sparking fresh outrage. A swift course correction is needed to settle the situation.

Finally, in the lower ranks, Where Winds Meet has tumbled nine spots to 48th, flirting with total exclusion. PC bang traffic has plummeted; while the game initially grabbed attention as a rare martial arts MMORPG back in November, it has failed to find a second wind as the launch hype faded. All eyes are on the major update scheduled for the 9th to see if it can turn the tide.