ARC Raiders Outperforms Call of Duty and Battlefield Over Holidays

The shooter market has radically changed in 2025. ARC Raiders emerged as the top-selling game on Steam during the 2025 holiday season, surpassing long-standing franchise heavyweights such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Battlefield 6. According to Steam's weekly sales charts, ARC Raiders claimed the number-one spot for the week ending December 30, highlighting a notable shift in player interest toward innovative shooter experiences.

While Battlefield 6 remained a strong contender, landing just behind ARC Raiders in sales, other high-profile releases also appeared in the holiday top sellers. The performance of ARC Raiders, however, stands out because extraction shooters, which blend player-versus-player and player-versus-environment mechanics, have historically been considered niche compared to traditional first-person military shooters.

The formula for success

Released globally in late 2025 by Embark Studios, ARC Raiders has sold millions of copies across PC and consoles, with some reports estimating more than seven million units. Unlike Black Ops 7, which struggled to reach similar Steam concurrent player numbers, ARC Raiders has maintained a consistently engaged player base, demonstrating strong retention weeks after launch. Battlefield 6 also saw a rapid decline in its PC player base, suggesting that longevity and engagement are increasingly tied to more dynamic gameplay experiences.

Analysts cite several reasons behind ARC Raiders' record-breaking growth. One factor is accessibility: while extraction shooters have often been criticized for their steep learning curves, ARC Raiders simplifies key mechanics without removing the tension that makes the genre compelling. This approach opens the game to a wider audience, including players who may have previously avoided the genre due to difficulty.

Another contributing factor is changing player preferences. The past year has seen a shift toward cooperative and emergent gameplay, with players seeking experiences that prioritize teamwork and unpredictable encounters over rigidly competitive modes. ARC Raiders delivers on this trend, offering varied missions and high-stakes gameplay that encourages collaboration without relying on strict competitive ladders.

Additionally, live-service support has played a significant role in maintaining momentum. Developers have actively engaged with the community, releasing regular updates, seasonal events and quality-of-life improvements that keep players invested. This proactive approach contrasts with some traditional shooters, which often experience sharp declines in activity following initial release.

Cultural visibility and community engagement have amplified the game's success too. Streaming platforms and social media have fueled word-of-mouth promotion, with players sharing memorable in-game moments that highlight the tension and unpredictability unique to extraction gameplay. This organic exposure has helped sustain sales and maintain the title’s presence in digital storefronts.

The success of ARC Raiders reflects a broader evolution within the shooter genre. While franchises like Call of Duty and Battlefield continue to dominate mainstream attention, the rise of extraction shooters suggests that players are increasingly seeking innovative gameplay formats that reward strategy, collaboration, and emergent storytelling. For developers, this trend signals that experimentation within hybrid shooter genres may yield substantial commercial rewards in the years ahead.

As usual, you can visit our comparator to check out the best discounts for ARC Raiders if you want to find out by yourself the reasons behind its immense popularity.