Embark Studios has officially announced that Arc Raiders will not undergo any additional public playtests prior to its scheduled October 30 release. Fans eager to experience the game again will need to wait for the full launch. The studio previously conducted two successful public playtests—Tech Test 1 (October 24-27, 2024) and Tech Test 2 (April 30-May 4, 2025)—which received widespread praise from testers and content creators streaming on platforms like Twitch and YouTube.

Earlier this year, a cryptic update to the Arc Raiders Steam playtest briefly included a hidden countdown timer pointing to June 6 (Summer Game Fest). While speculation swirled about a surprise open beta or shadow drop, the timer ultimately revealed only the game’s release date announcement, disappointing some fans who felt misled by the marketing approach.

In a recent Twitter statement, the Arc Raiders team confirmed no further playtests (including a rumored Tech Test 3) will occur before October 30. The studio also confirmed the game’s absence from Gamescom 2025, as developers prioritize final optimizations. The post acknowledged community frustrations over the countdown teaser, emphasizing transparency to rebuild trust after the backlash.

Despite past delays, the October 30 date appears firm, with Tech Test 2 demonstrating strong stability. However, Arc Raiders faces stiff competition in fall 2025, notably from Battlefield 6 (October 10), whose record-breaking beta turnout could draw players away from Embark’s extraction shooter.