Can Arc Raiders Win Game of the Year 2025? How does GOTY work

Can Arc Raiders win Game of the Year 2025? Explore the extraction shooter's critical acclaim, GOTY chances, and why late release timing works against
Can Arc Raiders Win Game of the Year 2025? How does GOTY work
Arc Raiders burst onto the gaming scene on October 30, 2025, quickly becoming one of autumn's biggest surprises with its approachable take on the extraction shooter genre. However, despite glowing reviews and a passionate community forming around the game, its chances of securing a Game of the Year award in 2025 are realistically quite slim—though not for reasons relating to quality. The Arc Raiders Phenomenon Developed by Embark Studios, Arc Raiders launched as a third-person extraction shooter set in a post-apocalyptic world dominated by hostile AI robots called Arcs. The game costs $40 and is available on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, as well as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. What sets it apart from genre competitors like Escape from Tarkov is its emphasis on cooperative gameplay and a surprisingly friendly community culture.​ The premise is straightforward: players venture into the dangerous Rust Belt territory, scavenge for resources while battling deadly Arc machines, …