ARC Raiders clarifies how ARC enemies behave, while its player count sits below its earlier peak ahead of its next major update, Riven Tides. Here’s a closer look at where the game stands and what’s ahead.
ARC Raiders Clarifies Machine Learning Use, Sees Major Player Drop
ARCs Do Not Learn From Players in Real Time
ARC Raiders’ Embark Studios confirmed in an interview at this year’s Game Developers Conference (GDC) that ARC enemies do not learn from players in real time. Meanwhile, its Steam player count is down by around 80% from its peak in November 2025 based on current SteamDB data, though the game still maintains a sizeable player base.
Some players have speculated that ARCs adapt to player behavior in real time, but the studio clarified that this is not the case. Speaking with GamesRadar at GDC, machine learning research lead Martin Singh-Blom directly addressed this misconception. "It’s not like we’re training on player data," he said.
Instead, machine learning is used to train how ARCs move and behave, such as navigating terrain or pursuing targets. These systems rely on reward-based training, where certain actions are reinforced to produce more natural and dynamic movement. This allows ARCs to respond fluidly to different situations in-game without learning directly from players during matches.
Actual changes to enemy behavior are made directly by the developers, who review gameplay clips and player strategies. Singh-Blom explained, "The loop is, all the game developers look at TikToks and YouTube clips and say, ‘Hey, that’s really cool. Could we make this change that would really make people squeal?’ And then we make the change."
One example involved a popular clip of a Twitch streamer escaping a Leaper by hiding in a tunnel, where the enemy previously struggled to follow. After this, Embark updated the ARC’s behavior to better navigate tight spaces. Similar improvements have also been made to flying enemies, particularly in indoor environments, with Singh-Blom noting, "We keep trying to make the flying drones better and better at flying indoors. And every time players start to think that they're safe in some place, then it's nice if we can figure out a way to make the drones enter that space and make it less safe."
Singh-Blom added, "We hope to have more things in the future and have things in the pipeline, but they’re not ready yet," pointing to further updates to ARC behavior. For now, ARCs may feel adaptive in the moment, but their behavior is shaped through developer updates rather than real-time learning.
Steam Player Count Sits Around 80% Below Peak
In terms of player activity, ARC Raiders’ Steam player count is down by around 80% from its peak, which was reached shortly after launch. SteamDB data shows ARC Raiders reached an all-time peak of nearly 482,000 concurrent players in November 2025 and maintained strong activity into early January, with over 420,000 players recorded at the start of 2026. As of writing, the recent 24-hour peak sits at around 90,000 players, remaining among the more active titles on Steam despite being below earlier highs.
Notably, this pattern has continued following post-launch updates such as Shrouded Sky. While earlier updates like Cold Snap saw a temporary spike in player activity, similar increases were not seen following Shrouded Sky, with player numbers continuing to adjust over time.
Some players have pointed to a lack of long-term goals, as longtime players say they are running out of meaningful content despite regular updates. Embark Studios has acknowledged this in an interview with GamesRadar at the Game Developers Conference, published March 27, where production director Caio Braga said, "We want more for them. I want them to have more to do," referring to players who are reaching the end of the game’s current content.
Others have pointed to a divide in player expectations, with some in the community saying the experience leans too heavily toward PvE, while players looking for more PvP-driven gameplay have expressed dissatisfaction in online discussions and feedback.
Additional factors, such as ongoing concerns around cheaters and criticisms of recent updates not adding enough variety, have also been raised by players. At the same time, natural player churn—common for live-service games several months after launch—likely plays a role.
While the drop does not account for players on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, the current player count still represents a substantial audience and remains competitive on Steam, even as it sits far below the game’s earlier peak.
Riven Tides Concludes Escalation Roadmap
ARC Raiders is set to receive Riven Tides later in April as part of its Escalation Roadmap, which concludes with this update. It follows Flashpoint, which launched on March 31 and introduced a new ARC threat, a new map condition affecting visibility and movement, and a player project with new objectives and rewards.
Riven Tides will add a new map, a new large ARC enemy, a new map condition, and an Expedition window.
ARC Raiders is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Epic Games Store. For more information about the game, check out our article below.
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Arc Raiders' killer robots aren't learning in real time, but Embark will sneak in AI upgrades based on player behavior: We keep trying to make the flying drones better and better
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