Shroud Claims Arc Raiders Could Have Claimed Game of the Year Over Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 If Released Sooner: “Time Wasn’t on Its Side”

A dedicated fan of Arc Raiders, former Counter-Strike: Global Offensive pro and current streamer Shroud believes that if Embark’s extraction shooter had launched a few months earlier, it would have clinched the Game of the Year title over Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

During a recent stream, Michael ‘Shroud’ Grzesiek expressed his thoughts, stating, “I really do believe if this game came out at this state in the summer, it for sure wins. 10,000%.” He emphasized that the limited time frame—just three to four weeks—was insufficient for players to fully appreciate the game’s quality.

Arc Raiders managed to qualify for The Game Awards by releasing on October 30, 2025, just before the November deadline for nominations. The awards are determined by a jury system that includes numerous media outlets, which tends to favor games that have been available longer.

Despite the tight timeline, the strong first impressions of Arc Raiders led to its nomination and win for Best Multiplayer Game. Meanwhile, the blockbuster RPG Clair Obscur took home the Game of the Year award in a record-breaking sweep, a decision that Grzesiek openly critiqued.

However, after experiencing Sandfall’s fantastical adventure, he acknowledged its quality. While it may have been disappointing for Embark that Arc Raiders didn’t receive more recognition during the awards, the increasing player base has likely eased any concerns. For now, Grzesiek can take comfort in knowing that Arc Raiders is thriving.

“It’s what we had time to do”: Arc Raiders Expeditions won’t always give extra skill points or cost 5 million coins to fully complete, design lead says Embark is “actively looking at that now”