We covered this back in September, but an awful lot of people are really looking forward to Arc Raiders, so it’s worth a reminder: the open-to-all Arc Raiders server slam playtest is now live! This gives everyone a chance to dive in for the weekend ahead of the game’s full release on October 30.
Game servers for big, highly anticipated releases often struggle under the pressure of launch day, as we saw earlier this year with Dune: Awakening. That’s exactly why a server slam—a stress test with a catchier name—is essential. The goal? To hammer the infrastructure as hard as possible and see how it holds up.
While a server slam isn’t a guarantee of a smooth launch (Dune: Awakening reminded us of that too), it’s a solid attempt to identify and fix any overlooked issues before the big day, helping to avoid surprise headaches.
For players, it means three days of playtime with one of the most exciting games slated for 2025. PC Gamer shooterguy Morgan Park praised Arc Raiders back in April, calling it “a much more exciting extraction shooter than Marathon,” which may or may not have influenced the indefinite delay of Marathon just a few months later. Jake Tucker, also a fan of the genre, shared similar enthusiasm following a hands-on session in November 2024, declaring that “Arc Raiders could be something very special indeed.”
The Arc Raiders server slam features the Dam Battlegrounds map, described as “a broken landscape of flooded lowlands and forgotten structures.” You can play solo or squad up with friends. The playtest also includes “a selection of early quests” offered by the Traders of Speranza, the game’s in-world merchants.
Basic crafting stations will be available during this playtest, but upgrades won’t be possible yet. Similarly, some higher-end weapons, gear, and blueprints will remain locked for now.
As an extra bonus, everyone who takes part in the server slam will receive the exclusive Server Slammer backpack when Arc Raiders officially launches on October 30. So, not only do you get free weekend gameplay, but you’ll also grab a unique in-game item to show off.
Jump in, test the servers, and get a taste of what’s to come!
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/arc-raiders-one-of-our-most-anticipated-games-of-2025-is-free-for-all-in-its-final-pre-release-playtest-this-weekend/