Outriders (2021) credited as precursor to Arc Raiders and Marathon, Polygon reports
GG Brief Editorial Desk · AI-assisted, source attributed
Polygon reports that Outriders — developed by People Can Fly and published by Square Enix on April 1, 2021 — set a design standard later echoed by several 2026 multiplayer loot‑shooters. The Polygon retrospective by Ari Notis says those 2026 titles, including Arc Raiders and Marathon, share a loop of leaving a safe hub, clearing hostile areas, collecting loot, and returning. Notis notes Outriders was not an extraction shooter but delivered many of the same gameplay beats and supported play with you and up to two other players. The article argues Outriders was "years ahead of its time," framing it as an antecedent rather than presenting direct developer confirmation of influence.
- What happened: Polygon's Ari Notis reported that Outriders (People Can Fly; published by Square Enix on April 1, 2021) established a gameplay loop that later appeared in 2026 shooters such as Arc Raiders and Marathon.
- Why it matters: The Polygon piece claims those 2026 games share a return‑to‑hub, clear‑area, grab‑loot loop that Outriders already used, suggesting a design lineage according to the article.
- Context: Polygon states Outriders was not an extraction shooter but featured missions where "you and up to two other players" leave a safe hub, clear hostile areas, collect loot, and return.
- What next: Polygon's article frames Outriders as an antecedent but does not provide direct quotes from the developers of Arc Raiders or Marathon or other confirmatory statements establishing formal influence.
What changed
Polygon published a retrospective by Ari Notis arguing that Outriders, released April 1, 2021 (People Can Fly; Square Enix), anticipated a loot‑shooter loop later visible in several high‑profile 2026 multiplayer shooters.
Before and after
- Before: Outriders used missions in which players ("you and up to two other players") left a safe hub, fought through hostile areas, grabbed loot, and returned. Polygon says this was not an extraction shooter but shared core elements with later games.
- After: Polygon identifies Arc Raiders and Marathon (both discussed as widely talked‑about 2026 multiplayer shooters) as titles that share the same loop, which the article characterizes as following the standard Outriders set.
Limits
- Polygon's piece is an opinion retrospective and describes Outriders as "years ahead of its time." It does not supply direct statements from the developers of Arc Raiders or Marathon confirming Outriders as an influence.