Is ARC Raiders Cross-Platform? (Answered)

ARC Raiders is a third-person extraction shooter developed and published by Embark Studios, the same team behind The Finals. The game takes extraction shooter mechanics from titles like Escape from Tarkov and blends them with PvE elements, creating a PvPvE experience where players face both enemy combatants and AI threats.

The game has become one of the most successful releases this year, reaching at least 300,000 concurrent players every day on Steam alone. These impressive numbers have attracted players from different platforms who want to jump into the action together.

However, many potential players remain unsure about which platforms support ARC Raiders and whether they can team up with friends on different systems. In this article, we'll explore everything you need to know about cross-platform support in ARC Raiders, breaking down platform availability, cross-play functionality, and cross-progression features.

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Cross-Platform vs Cross-Play: What’s the Difference?

Many players use cross-platform and cross-play interchangeably, and even major gaming news networks make this mistake regularly. The terms sound similar in theory, but they represent completely different functionalities in practice.

Here's the breakdown:

• Cross-Platform: The ability for a game to be published on multiple platforms simultaneously. For example, GTA V is a cross-platform game available on PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

• Cross-Play: An in-game function that allows players to compete with each other on the same servers regardless of their platform. For example, Rocket League supports cross-play, meaning Xbox players can join matches with PlayStation users.

The relationship between these features works one way only. Any game that supports cross-play must be cross-platform by default, but the reverse isn't true. A game can exist on multiple platforms without letting those players interact with each other.

GTA V demonstrates this distinction perfectly. The game is available across seven different platforms, making it cross-platform, but players on PlayStation cannot join sessions with Xbox or PC users because it lacks cross-play functionality.

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So, is ARC Raiders Cross-Play or Cross-Platform?

ARC Raiders actually supports both cross-platform and cross-play functionalities. The game is available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, making it a cross-platform title. Players across all three platforms can join the same raids and fight alongside or against each other, which means full cross-play support is enabled.

This feature comes enabled by default, but you can disable it anytime through your in-game settings. Some players prefer platform-specific matchmaking for various reasons, including input method preferences or competitive balance concerns.

Here's how to disable cross-play:

1. Launch ARC Raiders

2. Go to "Settings"

3. Navigate to "Gameplay"

4. Turn off "Crossplay"

Disabling cross-play restricts your matchmaking pool to players on your specific platform only. This may result in longer queue times depending on your region and the time you play, but it guarantees you'll only face opponents using the same hardware and input methods as you.

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Can Epic and Steam play together on ARC Raiders?

Yes, Epic and Steam players can play together without any issues. ARC Raiders uses Embark ID, a unified account system that connects players across all platforms, including Steam, Epic Games, PlayStation, and Xbox.

This system links your progress and friends list regardless of where you purchased the game, allowing seamless matchmaking between PC storefronts. Simply add your friends using their Embark ID (formatted as USERNAME#1234), and you can squad up together regardless of their platform.

Does ARC Raiders have Cross-Progression?

Yes, ARC Raiders supports full cross-progression across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Your character progress, unlocks, gear, and cosmetics sync automatically through your Embark ID when you switch platforms.

However, you need to purchase the game separately on each platform. The exception is Xbox Play Anywhere, which gives you both Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC versions with a single digital purchase from the Microsoft Store.

Final Words

ARC Raiders delivers complete cross-platform support with both cross-play and cross-progression across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Players can squad up with friends regardless of their platform, and progression syncs automatically through Embark ID. You can disable cross-play anytime through the settings if you prefer platform-specific matchmaking, though this may increase queue times.

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