Arc Raiders Surpasses 300,000 Concurrent Players on Steam Following Launch

Arc Raiders, the new extraction shooter from Embark Studios, has made an impressive debut across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X following its launch on October 30. The game has already crossed 300,000 concurrent players on Steam, signaling strong early interest. While the developer has not disclosed exact sales numbers, the title has quickly climbed to the top of Steam’s Top Sellers chart, highlighting its popularity among gamers.

According to SteamDB, Arc Raiders reached a peak concurrent player count of 354,836 over the past weekend. At the time of reporting, over 150,000 players were actively in the game. Over the last 24 hours, it consistently ranked among the top five most-played games on Steam, narrowly trailing behind major titles such as Battlefield 6. This suggests that the game has resonated well with both casual and competitive players alike.

In addition to strong concurrent numbers, Arc Raiders has also overtaken Battlefield 6 on Steam’s Top Sellers list, claiming the number one spot. The ranking indicates robust demand and high engagement, reinforcing the notion that Embark Studios’ blend of extraction gameplay and multiplayer mechanics has struck a chord with the gaming community.

Given that Arc Raiders is available on multiple platforms, the total active player count is likely much higher than the Steam-only numbers suggest. The early success sets a promising tone for the game’s future, with potential for sustained growth as more players on console and PC join in. With strong initial engagement and top-seller status, Arc Raiders appears poised to be one of the breakout hits of the season.

Apple Expected to Release iOS 26.1 This Week, iOS 26.2 Beta to Follow Soon

Apple is reportedly preparing to roll out the iOS 26.1 update as early as Monday, according to Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman. This update, while relatively minor, introduces a new Tinted toggle for Liquid Glass, aimed at improving readability across supported iPhones. iOS 26.1 is expected to build on the foundation of iOS 26, which was first announced at WWDC 2025 and released to eligible devices in September, providing incremental improvements and optimizations for the operating system.

Following the public release of iOS 26.1, Apple is expected to launch the iOS 26.2 beta as early as Tuesday. Gurman notes that this beta will likely arrive shortly after the iOS 26.1 rollout, ensuring developers and early testers have access to the latest build for testing and feedback. While the first beta may not include major new features, it is expected to lay the groundwork for future updates that could expand functionality or refine existing tools.

The iOS 26.2 developer beta is also anticipated to be released alongside early beta versions of iPadOS, watchOS, and macOS, allowing Apple’s ecosystem of devices to be tested in parallel. This coordinated approach ensures that developers can optimize apps and features for multiple devices at once, maintaining consistency and stability across the Apple ecosystem. The initial beta is expected to focus primarily on performance improvements, bug fixes, and background optimizations rather than introducing headline features.

Overall, the upcoming updates highlight Apple’s continued effort to refine iOS 26 and maintain a smooth user experience. While iOS 26.1 delivers a small but useful enhancement with the Tinted toggle, the subsequent iOS 26.2 beta will give developers an early look at potential improvements and prepare the platform for more substantial updates in the coming months. Users can expect these updates to arrive shortly, barring any last-minute delays, ensuring that Apple devices remain optimized and up-to-date.

Microsoft Unveils New Windows 11 Insider Preview Build Featuring Ask Copilot Shortcut and Shared Audio Support

Microsoft has announced the release of a new Windows 11 Insider Preview Build, bringing several notable features and improvements to both the Dev and Beta Channels. Among the highlights is the introduction of Ask Copilot in the taskbar — a streamlined way for users to interact with Microsoft’s AI assistant directly through one-click access. This enhancement allows users to access Copilot Vision and Voice features more quickly, making it easier to perform tasks using natural language commands. Additionally, the company is rolling out a new Shared Audio feature that enables users to play audio simultaneously on two connected devices, expanding personalization and accessibility options across the system.

According to Microsoft’s official Windows Insider blog, the latest update arrives as Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7051 (KB5067115). While this release includes routine bug fixes and performance enhancements, the most exciting addition is undoubtedly the integration of Ask Copilot directly within the Windows taskbar. This AI-powered shortcut aims to improve productivity by allowing users to perform everyday tasks, find information, and even control settings through both text and voice inputs. It’s designed as an opt-in experience, meaning users can choose to enable it manually under Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Ask Copilot.

The new Shared Audio functionality, currently in testing, is another notable addition in this build. It allows a single audio stream to be played on two devices at once — for example, sharing music between two pairs of Bluetooth headphones or syncing playback across speakers. This feature could be especially useful for watching movies, gaming, or collaborative listening experiences. It represents part of Microsoft’s broader effort to enhance multimedia flexibility in Windows 11, aligning the platform more closely with the needs of creators and casual users alike.

In addition to these updates, the build extends Full-Screen Experience (FSE) support to a wider range of handheld gaming PCs, further optimizing Windows 11 for portable gaming devices. This improvement ensures smoother frame rates, better scaling, and a more immersive experience for gamers using compact form-factor PCs. With these updates, Microsoft continues to refine Windows 11 into a more intelligent, flexible, and adaptive platform — one that blends AI-powered assistance with thoughtful usability enhancements across devices and use cases.