ARC Raiders Server Slam Playtest Launch Times, Rewards, Download Links and Expected Content

by Alex Co October 17, 2025 8:08 am in News
ARC Raiders Server Slam

If you liked what you played of ARC Raiders before, or haven’t tried it at all, now’s your chance to do so before it launches later this month. Embark, the studio that created The Finals, is ready to take the extraction world by storm when ARC Raiders later this month, but gamers can give it a go now.

The ARC Raiders server slam playtest is available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, starting today, October 17!

For the download links, server launch times, and what to expect from the test, read on.

ARC Raiders Server Slam Playtest Start Time and Store Links

Here is when ARC Raiders’ server slam starts:

Location / Country Time Zone Local Time
New York, USA EDT (UTC -4) Oct 17, 2025 – 9:00 AM
Los Angeles, USA PDT (UTC -7) Oct 17, 2025 – 6:00 AM
Chicago, USA CDT (UTC -5) Oct 17, 2025 – 8:00 AM
London, UK BST (UTC +1) Oct 17, 2025 – 2:00 PM
Paris, France CEST (UTC +2) Oct 17, 2025 – 3:00 PM
Berlin, Germany CEST (UTC +2) Oct 17, 2025 – 3:00 PM
Cape Town, South Africa SAST (UTC +2) Oct 17, 2025 – 3:00 PM
Dubai, UAE GST (UTC +4) Oct 17, 2025 – 5:00 PM
Mumbai, India IST (UTC +5:30) Oct 17, 2025 – 6:30 PM
Beijing, China CST (UTC +8) Oct 17, 2025 – 9:00 PM
Tokyo, Japan JST (UTC +9) Oct 17, 2025 – 10:00 PM
Seoul, South Korea KST (UTC +9) Oct 17, 2025 – 10:00 PM
Sydney, Australia AEDT (UTC +11) Oct 18, 2025 – 12:00 AM
Auckland, New Zealand NZDT (UTC +13) Oct 18, 2025 – 2:00 AM
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA HST (UTC -10) Oct 17, 2025 – 3:00 AM
Mexico City, Mexico CDT (UTC -5) Oct 17, 2025 – 8:00 AM
São Paulo, Brazil BRT (UTC -3) Oct 17, 2025 – 10:00 AM

ARC Raiders Server Slam Download Links

Per Embark:

Steam:

If you played TT2, you’ll see your “ARC Raiders – Playtest” update available now. If you don’t see it, restart Steam!

If you did not play TT2, it will take a while for Steam to open access in batches, so you’ll see your the download in the next few hours. Search for “ARC Raiders – Playtest” in Steam to see if you’ve been let in.

Epic Online:

Epic players should be able to download now!

Check out the PC requirements if you’re unsure whether your rig can handle the game or not.

The Map: Dam Battlegrounds

The Dam Battlegrounds stretch across a broken landscape of flooded lowlands and forgotten structures. You’ll cross through dark forests and overgrown research centers, through swamps thick with mist and echoes of a civilization long gone.

You can run solo, or head there with a squad. Your choice.

This is the first map Raiders will explore in the full launch version of ARC Raiders. It’s the perfect fighting ground to get your bearings, test your instincts, and learn the rhythm of the Rust Belt.

Keep your eyes open for some special conditions like Electromagnetic Storms and Night Raids, and perhaps even a visit from the Queen

Trading and Quests

In Speranza, survival means connection. The Traders of Speranza keep the wheels turning, even if each one has their own agenda and their own way of seeing the world. They’ll send you on quests that tell the story of the Rust Belt and reward you for your help. You’ll trade with them, sell what you don’t need, and earn their trust one job at a time.

During the Server Slam, Traders will offer a selection of early quests. The more advanced work will have to wait until launch.

Server Slam content

  • Weapons and Gear: Early and mid-tier equipment will be available for you to experiment with, but some things will be locked until launch.
  • Blueprints: Blueprints expand your Raider’s ability to make and modify weapons and gear. All blueprints can be found, but those of the highest-tier will not be craftable during the Server Slam.
  • Raider Deck: You’ll be able to test out the Raider Deck functionality with one page of items to unlock.
  • Workshop: Basic crafting stations (Weapon, Equipment, and Medical) are available, but upgrades aren’t possible for this limited test.

Some systems will be visible in the world, but not yet active:

  • Projects (Expeditions): Long-term missions where a Raider leaves the Rust Belt permanently. Some progress resets, but key rewards and benefits carry over. For more information you can read this blogpost from Design Director Virgil Watkins.
  • Trials: A proving ground for seasoned Raiders. Complete the challenge, return safely to Speranza, and vie for a place on the leaderboard. You’ll have to wait for launch to climb ranks and earn seasonal rewards.
  • Codex: A growing archive of your Raider’s accumulated knowledge. Here you will collect stories, people, and places as you progress deeper into the world.

Feats, Cred, and Raider Decks

Topside, Raiders can complete small, moment-to-moment challenges called Feats. You’ll receive a list of rotating daily tasks, asking you to destroy ARC, extract with rare loot, or other requirements. Completing these Feats will earn you Cred, a currency used to unlock rewards through the Raider Decks.

Raider Decks are made up of multiple pages of rewards that open as you progress. Some decks are free, others are premium, and while most stay in circulation, a few are time-limited. Be aware that you won’t be able to purchase any in-game benefits.

The ARC machines

The Rust Belt is crawling with machines that don’t care who you are or how many fights you’ve survived. Each one hunts differently. They are known as ARC.

Here are a few you’ll face:

  • Wasps: swarming fliers, firing with accuracy
  • Ticks: small scuttlers in the dark, waiting for you to come close
  • Bastions: slow-moving tanks that annihilate anything in their sight
  • Leapers: agile jumpers that will close the gap before you can react

Rewards

Play during the Server Slam and confirm your Embark ID to earn an exclusive backpack: The Server Slammer! This prize will be yours to claim when you launch the full game for the first time after the launch on October 30th!

For more on ARC Raiders, check out how progression wipes work in the game, as well as read on for the PS5 Pro enhancements confirmed to be available at launch.

ARC Raiders will be be released on Oct. 30 on the PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.

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Alex Co

Father, gamer, games media vet, writer of words, killer of noobs.