Embark Studios has been quiet. Too quiet. For a long time, we only had that flashy 2021 trailer to go on, showing robots falling from the sky while a catchy pop song played in the background. Then the pivot happened. They shifted from a co-op horde shooter to an extraction-based survival game. People were worried. Was it just another "Tarkov-lite" jumping on a trend? The ARC Raiders Tech Test 1 finally gave us some answers, and honestly, the vibe is way different than what most people expected from the screenshots.
It isn't just a reskin of The Finals. While it shares that same buttery-smooth destruction engine, this test revealed a game that feels heavy, deliberate, and surprisingly punishing.
The Reality of the ARC Raiders Tech Test 1 Gameplay Loop
If you went into the tech test thinking you’d be sliding around like a cracked-out ninja, you probably died in about thirty seconds. The movement has weight. Real weight. It’s a massive departure from the high-octane chaos of Embark's other big hit. In the ARC Raiders Tech Test 1, your stamina matters more than your aim half the time. If you’re caught out in the open by a drone and your bar is empty, you’re basically scrap metal.
💡 You might also like: Why Grocery Shopping Game Online Options Are Actually Better Than Real Life
The loop is familiar but tweaked. You drop into the ruins of Calabria, scavenge for industrial parts, and try to get out before a squad of players—or the machines—decide you've lived long enough. But here’s the thing: the AI is actually scary. Most extraction shooters treat "mobs" as noise. In this test, a single ARC unit can end your run if you aren't paying attention. They don't just stand there. They flank. They use height.
Why the "Technical" part of the test mattered
This wasn't a marketing demo. It was a genuine stress test. We saw some wonky physics and the occasional server hiccup, but that’s the point of a tech test. Embark was clearly looking at how the "Sperians" (the players) interacted with the underground hub and the transition to the surface. The hub itself feels lived-in. It’s not just a menu. You walk around, talk to vendors, and feel the desperation of a world hiding from a mechanical apocalypse.
It’s gritty.
The lighting in the tech test was a standout feature. Since the game uses Global Illumination, the way shadows creep across the rusted remains of old-world cars makes the atmosphere feel thick. You find yourself squinting into the treeline, wondering if that glimmer is a piece of loot or the lens flare of a sniper drone.
Weapons, Loot, and the Struggle for Scraps
Let’s talk about the guns. They feel old. They feel like they’ve been repaired a thousand times with duct tape and hope. During the ARC Raiders Tech Test 1, the weapon variety was limited, but each tool had a specific identity. The recoil is bouncy. You can't just beam people from across the map with an SMG.
Looting isn't just about finding a "Gold Tier" rifle. It's about junk. You need screws. You need wires. You need the boring stuff to upgrade your base and keep your gear functional. It creates this weirdly addictive loop where you’re excited to find a literal pile of trash because it means you can finally craft a better backpack.
- Scavenging: You spend 70% of your time looking at the floor or inside crates.
- Engagement: Combat is loud and draws every machine in a 200-meter radius.
- Extraction: It's a nail-biter. The flares are visible from everywhere.
One thing the tech test proved is that Embark isn't afraid of "friction." They want things to be hard. They want you to feel the loss when you lose a kit.
The World of Calabria: Not Your Average Wasteland
Most post-apocalyptic games are brown. Just... so much brown. ARC Raiders Tech Test 1 showed off a world that is hauntingly beautiful. There’s greenery growing over the concrete. The sky is often a piercing blue, which makes the sight of a massive ARC ship hanging in the atmosphere even more unsettling. It’s a "Daylight Horror" vibe in some ways. You feel exposed.
There are no zombies here. The machines are clinical. They don't growl; they beep and whir. There’s a specific sound—a low-frequency hum—that happens when a large ARC unit is nearby. It’s genuinely stressful. Testers reported that the sound design was probably the most "finished" part of the experience. You can navigate by ear, which is vital when the fog rolls in.
✨ Don't miss: Finding the Best Resident Evil Zero Wallpaper Without Getting Malware
The Elephant in the Room: The Extraction Pivot
A lot of people are still salty that this isn't the co-op game from the first trailer. I get it. But playing the ARC Raiders Tech Test 1 makes the decision clearer. The tension of an extraction shooter fits the "humanity vs. unstoppable machines" theme way better than a standard wave-based shooter would. When you're carrying a bag full of vital supplies and you hear the clank of a machine's footsteps, the stakes feel real.
Is it better than the original concept? It’s different. It’s more "niche," but that niche is incredibly deep.
Technical Performance and Requirements
Since this was a technical test, performance was all over the place for some. If you were running anything older than an RTX 30-series, you probably had to tweak some settings. The game is demanding. It uses Unreal Engine 5 features that push CPU and GPU limits, especially with the destruction.
We saw players struggling with frame drops in the high-density forest areas. However, the netcode—the thing they were actually testing—seemed surprisingly solid. Hit registration felt crisp, which is the death knell for extraction shooters if it’s off. If you miss a shot in ARC Raiders, it's usually your fault, not the server's.
What's Next After Tech Test 1?
Embark has been collecting a mountain of data. We know they are looking at "player density" specifically. During the test, some felt the map was a bit too empty, while others felt they couldn't go five feet without getting shot. Finding that balance is what the next few months will be about.
✨ Don't miss: Final Transmission Portal 2: The Eerie Secret Hiding in Aperture Science
There’s also the question of "The ARC." We only saw a fraction of the machine types. The lore hints at much bigger, much more terrifying threats that haven't been deployed to the surface yet. If the tech test was just the scouts, the full game is going to be a nightmare—in a good way.
Common Misconceptions from the Test
- "It's just a The Finals mod." Nope. Different physics, different movement, totally different gunplay logic.
- "The AI is dumb." It’s actually programmed to be oppressive. If you think it’s dumb, you probably haven't encountered a Hunter unit yet.
- "It's coming out next month." Definitely not. The tech test showed a game that still needs significant polish on the UI and progression systems.
Actionable Steps for Aspiring Raiders
If you missed the first test and want in on the next one, you need to be proactive. Embark doesn't just hand out keys to everyone on the street.
- Sign up on Steam: Go to the ARC Raiders store page and hit the "Request Access" button for the Playtest. It’s a lottery, but it’s your best shot.
- Join the Discord: The developers are surprisingly active there. They often announce "waves" of invites.
- Update your drivers: This game uses bleeding-edge tech. If you’re on old drivers, the game will likely crash on launch.
- Watch the VODs: Since the NDA for the first tech test was strict, look for "authorized" footage to learn the map layouts. Knowing where the extracts are before you jump in will save your life.
The most important thing you can do is prepare for a slower pace. Don't go in expecting a twitch-shooter. Learn to love the scrap. Learn to hide. The machines are winning the war; you're just trying to survive the afternoon.
Keep an eye on your email for the next invite wave. Embark is known for doing these tests in short, intense bursts rather than leaving servers up for weeks. When the notification hits, you usually only have a weekend to play. Make it count.