Does Arc Raiders Actually Have a Storyline?

by

ARC Raiders is primarily a competitive multiplayer game where players battle each other and the environment, so you might not expect a strong story. While the initial plot seems like a simple reason to collect resources and fight opponents, the game’s deeper backstory reveals a surprisingly rich and engaging narrative that unfolds as you explore the world of Speranza.

Working together is central to ARC Raiders, both in how the story unfolds and how you play. You can join forces with friends or other players to battle the game’s toughest enemies. This teamwork feels natural within the game’s world and adds depth for those interested in learning more about the story. While ARC Raiders doesn’t tell a story in a typical way, it offers enough background details and ongoing updates to let players build a larger, connected narrative beyond just the gameplay.

The Story of ARC Raiders So Far

I’m really excited about ARC Raiders! It’s set way in the future, 2180 to be exact, and things are pretty bleak. Most of humanity is gone, with the survivors either escaping Earth or hiding out in underground cities and bunkers. It wasn’t just the environmental disaster that almost wiped us out, though – these things called ARC machines showed up and started attacking. The game takes place in what used to be Italy, but now it’s this totally wrecked wasteland called the Rust Belt – deserts and ruined cities everywhere. It sounds intense!

The Exodus Caused a Rift Between the Survivors of Humanity

When Earth began to fall apart, the richest people escaped on rockets in an event called the Exodus. They went on to colonize new planets, but most of humanity was left behind, creating deep anger towards those who left. After the Exodus, a new group of scavengers emerged, risking the dangers of the surface world to find supplies for the underground cities, like Toledo – the home of players in ARC Raiders.

The First Wave of ARC Pinned Humanity Against a Wall

So, after everyone left the cities – the Exodus, they called it – these things called ARC machines just showed up. It was like a first attack, and honestly, it was terrifying. All the raider groups had to band together to fight them, just to survive. We still don’t know where the ARCs came from – if they were built by someone, or if they’re aliens – but we did manage to figure out how they moved and what they did during that first wave. It cost a lot of good people, but the info we got helped future raiders deal with them, thankfully.

ARC Raiders’ Missions Reveal What Happened in the Rust Belt

Currently in the story of ARC Raiders, the town of Speranza in Toledo is a base for raiders and the starting point for missions to the surface. Players can accept many quests from the characters in Speranza, and these quests are key to learning about the game’s history, including the Exodus and the First Wave.

Take the “Keeping The Memory” mission as an example. Celeste sends players to a memorial in the Formicai Hills (on the Dam Battlegrounds) to honor those lost during the First Wave. There, players must sift through the remains of old structures to find a raider’s helmet – a relic from the battle. This quest showcases how ARC Raiders uses environmental details and subtle storytelling to reveal the game’s lore and history. Typically, characters who give out quests also offer explanations that help players understand the world and piece together what happened.

Each of ARC Raiders’ Maps Fills in a Piece of the Puzzle

  • Dam Battlegrounds

In ARC Raiders, players begin on the Dam Battlegrounds, the site of a significant fight between raiders and the first ARC machines. Exploring the map—including the Scrap Yard and the remains of those early machines—reveals details about the battle and how the ARCs damaged the dam and its power system.

  • Buried City

Okay, so I’ve been playing ARC Raiders, and the Buried City map is seriously cool. It’s like a flashback to what life was like before everything went down – before the Exodus and the first attack. You’re running around these old ruins, totally covered in sand, and you can see what used to be apartments, a library, even a hospital and shops. The coolest part? I noticed signs at the train station that say the city was called “Marano” – it really gives you a sense of the world they used to live in.

  • Spaceport

The Spaceport map in ARC Raiders tells the story of the Exodus, showing players places like the Rocket Assembly, Control Tower, and Launch Towers. These locations reveal how the privileged escaped Earth when the world fell apart.

  • Blue Gate

I’ve been playing ARC Raiders and I’m starting to realize Blue Gate is a pretty recent find for us players. A lot of the missions there are all about checking out and fixing things around the area. It’s like we’re piecing together what happened – it looks like the raiders are trying to rebuild after the First Wave really tore the place up. It’s cool seeing the story unfold as you explore!

  • Stella Montis

The Stella Montis map in ARC Raiders is particularly intriguing. It’s set inside an old research facility hidden in the snowy mountains north of the Rust Belt. The map’s details hint that people were preparing for a major disaster and trying to save humanity from the end of the world.

Much of the lore surrounding these maps can be found in the ARC Raiders Codex.

The Real Storyline of ARC Raiders is in Its Live Community Events

ARC Raiders builds its world’s story through collectible entries and details found in the game environment. However, the main story is unfolding now, shaped by how players interact with each other and through regular game updates. With update 1.2.0, players worked together to unlock the Stella Montis map by contributing resources. Now that Stella Montis is accessible, players can take part in the ‘Breaking New Ground’ event and explore the map to uncover its hidden secrets.

The storytelling in ARC Raiders emphasizes the importance of community, both within the game and among players. As a live-service game, the story is constantly evolving and shaped by the player base. While players are given some of the game’s backstory, they’ll discover more by exploring the game world, taking part in events, and sending their characters on expeditions to expand the ARC Raiders universe.

Read More

2025-11-18 09:05