Fans and journalists alike have had varied feelings about the highly anticipated co-op extraction shooter Arc Raiders, but Twitch star Michael “Shroud” Grzesiek isn’t having it. In a recent stream, the ex-CS:GO pro shot back at early critics, praising the game’s promise and calling out people who are evaluating it too soon.
Shroud Responds to Early Backlash
After the early access build of Arc Raiders was released, people on social media have been complaining about the game’s mechanics, tempo, and overall polish. Many players called it “just another generic looter shooter.” Shroud, on the other hand, quickly shot down those arguments, saying that Arc Raiders is “doing something new” and that people “just don’t get it yet.”
He stressed that the game’s slower, more strategic style is meant to promote teamwork and deliberate planning instead of wild gunplay. Shroud remarked, “It shouldn’t feel like Apex or Battlefield.” “It’s a separate thing.”
Why Shroud Believes Arc Raiders Has Promise
Shroud is one of the most well-known names in the first-person shooter world. Thus, his response is noteworthy. He liked the game’s immersive atmosphere, the way the AI behaved, and how deep the extraction mechanics currently are. He thinks that Arc Raiders is more of a survival game than a regular shooter, which fans might like if they get used to how it works.
Shroud also told players to be patient with Embark Studios because games that are released in early access change a lot over time. “People forget that games like Tarkov and DayZ had a rough start too,” he noted. “Give it some time, and it might turn out to be something great.”
The Community Reacts
Shroud’s words soon spread, causing fans to argue. Some felt that the game deserved more time, while others believed that Arc Raiders still lacked direction. No matter what, the discourse shows how split the player base is and how much power Shroud still has to shape how people feel about new games.
