Arc Raiders maintains a user base superior to Battlefield 6

The first-person shooter landscape in December 2025 presents an unexpected technical dynamic. Arc Raiders, developed by Embark Studios, has consolidated a higher audience retention than major industry productions. By the end of December, the title reached 428 thousand simultaneous players on Steam, approaching its historical peak of 481 thousand achieved in November. At the time of writing, more than 158 thousand people are active in the game. In contrast, Battlefield 6 from Electronic Arts, although it initially peaked at 747 thousand users in October 2025, has experienced a sharp decline, currently maintaining only 49 thousand simultaneous players.

The ability of Embark Studios to sustain community interest is a relevant positive point. According to analysis by Forbes, Arc Raiders retained over 90% of its original user base, while Battlefield 6 lost 85% of its players in just three months. The performance of Arc Raiders becomes even more remarkable by surpassing established free-to-play titles, such as Marvel Rivals, which reached 153 thousand users as its peak in December, and rivaling with Apex Legends, which obtained 191 thousand. The constant delivery of content and the balance between PvP and PvE mechanics demonstrate the technical efficiency of the independent studio in comparison to the management methods of major publishers.

However, the trajectory of Battlefield 6 is subject to severe criticism. It is lamentable that a franchise of such infrastructure and budget, under the tutelage of Electronic Arts, cannot retain its audience for more than a quarter. The massive loss of players signals structural failures in post-launch support and a possible disconnect with the expectations of the combat simulator community. While smaller productions like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 receive awards, the accelerated decline of Battlefield 6 highlights that initial sales peaks do not guarantee the technical longevity of a competitive multiplayer ecosystem in 2026.