ARC Raiders retains 91% of peak player count as Battlefield 6 sees sharp Steam decline

New SteamDB data highlights a stark contrast between ARC Raiders and Battlefield 6, with Embark Studios’ extraction shooter showing unusually strong player engagement months after launch.

While Battlefield 6 has experienced a significant decline in active players, ARC Raiders has managed to retain roughly 91% of its all-time peak player count, a rare achievement for a multiplayer title.

ARC Raiders reached its all-time concurrent peak of approximately 482,000 players on Steam in mid-November, more than two weeks after its October 30 release. As of late December, the game recorded a 24-hour peak of around 439,000 players, reflecting a drop of just 9%. Industry observers note that this level of consistency is highly uncommon, even for successful live-service games, which typically see sharp declines after launch.

By comparison, Battlefield 6 peaked at roughly 747,000 concurrent players on Steam on its October 10 release day. Recent 24-hour peaks sit closer to 80,000 players, representing an estimated 85% drop from its launch high. Analysts caution that such declines are not unusual for online shooters, as most games reach their highest engagement within the first 48 hours of release.

However, the sustained performance of ARC Raiders suggests a combination of strong word-of-mouth, consistent gameplay appeal, and ongoing interest from new players. Rather than simple retention, experts believe the game is benefiting from a steady influx of newcomers alongside returning players.

Meanwhile, Battlefield 6 appears to be struggling to expand beyond its initial audience, despite remaining one of the more-played shooters on Steam. With competition from multiple high-profile FPS releases, the coming months—particularly early 2026—are expected to be a key indicator of whether current trends will hold.