Since its launch at the end of October, Arc Raiders has maintained a strong hold on my gaming time, even amidst the arrival of new seasons for Black Ops 7 and Battlefield 6. While I’ve dipped into both titles briefly, my attention remains firmly anchored to Embark’s extraction shooter. Destiny 2’s Star Wars-themed Renegades expansion is still patiently waiting in my library, and even the allure of the addictive cursed slot machine sim, Cloverpit, couldn’t distract me for long. Yet, in recent days, I’ve begun to experience a sense of fatigue with Arc Raiders, which is intriguing for a game that, just a few months back, I believed was destined for obscurity: Marathon.
In previous discussions, I’ve elaborated on what makes Arc Raiders a standout title—the emergent gameplay moments, the flexibility to engage in either a friendly or challenging environment, and the thoughtfully designed maps. The game’s free loadout system enhances accessibility, allowing players to quickly recover or mitigate risks to their gear. It has undoubtedly emerged as one of the finest multiplayer experiences in recent years, revitalizing the extraction genre.
However, during my latest session, I sensed a shift; the game’s grip on my attention seemed to loosen. I’m not a hardcore player who spends eight hours a day grinding through the latest Expedition Project, nor am I a PvP enthusiast constantly embroiled in shootouts. My playstyle is more measured, placing me in the middle ground of the player spectrum. Thus, arguments suggesting that I’ve exhausted all content or don’t engage enough don’t resonate with my experience.
So, what is causing this initial wave of Arc Raiders fatigue? While Embark has introduced new projects, limited-time events, and a few fresh map conditions to keep players engaged, the core issue lies in the absence of content that adds lasting, meaningful depth to the overall experience.
There have been some new augments, a solo versus squads matchmaking option, and a handful of seasonal items added to the loot pool. However, aside from the initial offerings that accompanied the launch of Stella Montis, there have been no new weapons, maps, enemy types, or NPC traders. Given that the game is still under six months old, it may seem unreasonable to expect a complete overhaul, but even a single new addition in any of those categories since the debut of Stella Montis would have been beneficial.
Change is on the horizon, however. The upcoming Shrouded Sky update promises to introduce a new map condition, Raider Deck, and our first new Arc enemy since the arrival of Stella Montis. Additionally, one of the existing maps will receive an update, potentially unveiling new or reworked locations to explore. This development is certainly promising, but it will only have a brief window to make an impact before the free Marathon Server Slam kicks off on Thursday, February 26.
If you had asked me at the time of Arc Raiders’ launch whether Marathon would emerge victorious in this extraction shooter rivalry, I would have confidently said ‘no way.’ Yet, Bungie has managed to shift perceptions—mine included—by offering polished glimpses of what this stylish sci-fi contender brings to the table. Marathon features tight, Destiny-esque FPS gunplay, a sandbox of character-based abilities, and lootable mods that introduce a layer of loadout customization that Arc Raiders currently lacks. Moreover, the high-quality voice acting from a star-studded cast adds to its appeal.
Should Marathon succeed in captivating my interest, and if the content from Shrouded Sky fails to ignite excitement, I can easily envision a scenario where my extraction obsession transitions from Embark’s game to Bungie’s. While I doubt Marathon will garner the same mainstream affection and player counts that Arc Raiders has achieved, as a dedicated shooter fan with considerable hours invested in Destiny, I could very well find myself drawn into the depths of Marathon’s universe.
