ARC Raiders vs Mafia III: Definitive Edition

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: PvPvE (Solo, Duo, or Trio Squads)
• Setting: Post-Apocalyptic Earth (Italy)
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
• Release Date: 2025-10-30
• Unique Feature: A unique 'no one-shot kill' shield mechanic that disincentivizes camping, and a persistent progression system with no forced wipes.

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only
• Setting: 1968 New Bordeaux (New Orleans)
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
• Definitive Edition Release: 2020-05-19
• Unique Feature: A mature and cinematic narrative that tackles difficult themes of racism and revenge, presented in a unique documentary style within a vibrant 1960s open world.

• Squad Mates: The game is designed for squads of 1-3 players. Teammates can be revived (without a special tool), share loot, and must coordinate to survive against ARC and other player squads.
  Human (Player)
• Scrappy the Rooster: A pet companion located in the player's hub. Scrappy provides a steady, passive stream of basic materials after every raid, ensuring players always have a baseline of resources, even after multiple failed runs.
  Animal (Rooster)

• Underboss Associates: While the game is single-player, Lincoln can use a radio to call upon associates provided by his underbosses. This can include a 'Consigliere' to collect his money, a 'gun van' to buy weapons, or a squad of heavily armed enforcers to provide temporary backup in a firefight.
  Human (AI)

• Recipes: Found topside, these are one of the most valuable items. Successfully extracting a recipe permanently unlocks the ability to craft that item at the Workshop.
• Keys: Rare items found topside. 'Key Room' keys unlock high-value loot rooms on the map. 'Raider Hatch Keys' unlock rare, silent extraction points.
• Codex Entries: Unlocked by progressing. This is a growing repository of lore about the ARC, the world, and its inhabitants.

• Playboy Magazines: Authentic Playboy magazines from the era, featuring vintage articles and pinups, are hidden throughout the world.
• Vargas Paintings: Classic pin-up paintings by artist Alberto Vargas are scattered across New Bordeaux for players to find.
• Junction Boxes: Tapping into these electrical boxes reveals the locations of all collectibles and points of interest in a specific area of the map.

• Sci-Fi
• Post-Apocalyptic
• Extraction Shooter
• PvPvE
• Third-Person Shooter
• Robots
• Survival

• Organized Crime
• Revenge
• 1960s America
• Racism
• Vietnam War
• Southern Gothic
• Action-Adventure
• Open World

• Firearms: Varies (Assault Rifles, SMGs, Snipers, Shotguns)
  A diverse arsenal of 19 different firearms across multiple categories. Weapons use one of four simplified ammo types (Light, Medium, Heavy, Shotgun) and can be customized with attachments. Examples include the 'Rattler' AR and 'Osprey' sniper rifle.
• Gadgets: Utility / Tactical
  A wide range of craftable items essential for survival and combat, including grenades, mines, door blockers, deployable barricades, and zip lines.

• Pistols & Revolvers: Sidearms
  A variety of handguns, including the M1911 and silenced pistols, perfect for stealth or as a reliable backup.
• Shotguns: Close-Quarters
  Powerful pump-action and semi-automatic shotguns that are devastating in close-quarters combat.
• Rifles & SMGs: Automatic Weapons
  The workhorses of combat, including military-grade rifles like the M16 and high fire-rate submachine guns.
• Explosives & Heavy Weapons: Heavy Ordinance
  Includes grenades, C4, and powerful weapons like grenade launchers for dealing with groups of enemies and vehicles.
• Combat Knife: Melee Weapon
  Lincoln's signature weapon, used for brutal and efficient stealth takedowns and visceral melee finishers.

• Shields: The primary defensive item. Shields come in Light, Medium, and Heavy variants, providing a regenerating health pool. A fully-charged shield prevents a player from being one-shot. Shields degrade and must be repaired in the hub.
• Raider Augments: A special gear slot that allows players to fine-tune their build, affecting stats like backpack slots, weight limit, and the number of equippable weapons or quick-use items.

• Cosmetic Customization: Players can fully customize their Raider's appearance with a wide array of outfits, backpacks, attachments, and charms. Cosmetics are unlocked via quests, Raider Decks, or the in-game store. The Deluxe Edition includes the 'Astro' and 'Bruiser' bundles.

Progression is persistent and does not wipe. Players earn XP to level up and gain skill points, which can be invested in three skill trees: Conditioning (stamina, breaching), Mobility (climbing, vaulting), and Survival (looting speed, stealth). A voluntary prestige system called the 'Expedition Project' allows players to reset their progress for exclusive rewards.

Lincoln's skills improve through gameplay. As he takes over rackets and assigns them to his three underbosses (Vito, Cassandra, and Burke), he unlocks new perks and upgrades. These include increased health and stamina, improved weapon handling, and unique abilities like calling in enforcers, cutting phone lines to prevent police reinforcements, or having a car delivered on demand.

The game features a large, open-world map with four confirmed zones: Dam Battlegrounds (a large starting area with forests and a dam), Buried City (a metropolitan area covered in sand), Spaceport (a derelict industrial zone), and Blue Gate (a mountain area). A fifth map, Stella Montis, is rumored. Maps feature dynamic weather, time of day, and special events.

The open world of New Bordeaux is comprised of nine unique districts, each with its own distinct culture, population, and criminal rackets. These range from the swampy Bayou Fantom and the industrial Tickfaw Harbor to the affluent Frisco Fields and the bustling French Ward.

• The Raider: Playable Character
  The player's customizable character. Players can choose their face, body type, and hair, and then define their playstyle through a classless skill tree system.
• Celeste: Key NPC
  The charismatic raider leader in the Speranza hub who is responsible for providing the main story quests.
• Tion Wyn: Key NPC
  The reclusive gun craftsman who runs the gun shop in Speranza.

• Lincoln Clay: Playable Protagonist
  A Vietnam War veteran who returns to New Bordeaux and is betrayed by the Italian Mafia. His story is a methodical and brutal quest for revenge.
• Cassandra: Underboss / Ally
  The leader of the Haitian Gang. She becomes one of Lincoln's three underbosses, providing him with weapon upgrades and other perks.
• Thomas Burke: Underboss / Ally
  The head of the Irish Mob. An old-school brawler who becomes an underboss, offering vehicle delivery and police bribery services.
• Vito Scaletta: Underboss / Ally
  The protagonist of Mafia II. Now an older, exiled mobster, he joins Lincoln's cause as an underboss, providing enforcers and other benefits.
• Sal Marcano: Primary Antagonist
  The powerful Don of the Marcano crime family. He is the man who betrayed Lincoln and serves as the ultimate target of his revenge.

• Topside Expeditions
  The main gameplay loop. Players deploy to one of the large open-world maps for a 30-minute session to scavenge for loot, complete quests for traders, and interact with dynamic events, with the ultimate goal of successfully extracting.
• World Boss Encounters
  A dynamic, high-risk MMO-style objective to defeat massive ARC bosses like 'The Queen' at the Harvester. This requires cooperation between multiple squads and yields 'insane' loot.

• Main Story Missions
  A cinematic, chapter-based story that follows Lincoln Clay's war against the Marcano crime family, structured around taking over the city's districts.
• Racket Takedowns
  The core gameplay loop. In each district, players must cause a set amount of financial damage to a criminal racket by destroying assets, stealing cash, and eliminating enforcers before confronting the racket's boss.
• DLC Storylines
  Three self-contained story campaigns included in the Definitive Edition, each with its own unique setting, characters, and gameplay focus (e.g., car chases, jungle warfare, horror investigation).

The core mode is a persistent PvPvE extraction shooter where players can queue up solo, in duos, or in trios. The map is populated by other players and AI-controlled ARC machines. Proximity chat is enabled, allowing for emergent alliances or betrayals. There is no in-match squadding.

The game is designed as a live service with a seasonal 'Raider Deck' (battle pass) that offers free and paid progression tracks. Developers have emphasized that monetization is cosmetic-only and not 'pay to win'. New maps, weapons, and features will be added over time based on community feedback.

All post-launch content is included in the Definitive Edition. The three story expansions are: 'Faster, Baby!' (a story focused on high-speed car chases and stunts in a new rural town), 'Stones Unturned' (a global spy-thriller adventure with CIA agent John Donovan), and 'Sign of the Times' (a dark, horror-themed investigation into a violent cult).

• Q: What is ARC Raiders?
  A: ARC Raiders is a third-person, PvPvE extraction shooter from the developers of The Finals. Players (as 'Raiders') scavenge a post-apocalyptic Earth, fighting other players and a deadly army of AI robots called ARC, all while trying to extract with valuable loot.
• Q: Is ARC Raiders free-to-play?
  A: No. The game was originally announced as free-to-play but has shifted to a premium model. The Standard Edition costs $40.
• Q: Is it a 'one-shot' extraction shooter like Tarkov?
  A: No. A key feature is the shield system, which prevents players from being one-shot as long as their shield is charged. This encourages more movement and tactical, drawn-out fights rather than camping.
• Q: Are there server wipes?
  A: No, the developers have stated there are no forced wipes. All progression is permanent. There is a voluntary prestige system called the 'Expedition Project' that players can opt-in to for exclusive rewards.

• Q: What is included in the Mafia III: Definitive Edition?
  A: It includes the full base game plus all three of its story DLCs ('Faster, Baby!', 'Stones Unturned', and 'Sign of the Times') and all bonus content packs.
• Q: Is Mafia III connected to the other Mafia games?
  A: Yes. While it features a new protagonist and setting, Vito Scaletta, the protagonist of Mafia II, plays a major supporting role as one of Lincoln's underbosses.
• Q: How does the open world work?
  A: The open world of New Bordeaux is the setting for the story. The main gameplay loop involves taking over the city's nine districts one by one by dismantling the criminal rackets within them. Outside of this structure, players can freely explore the city.
• Q: What is the tone of the game?
  A: Mafia III is known for its serious and mature tone. It is a dark revenge story that directly confronts the racism and social upheaval of the 1960s American South.

The game is widely praised for its exceptional licensed soundtrack, featuring over 100 iconic songs from the 1960s, including tracks by Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Rolling Stones, and Johnny Cash. The music is delivered through multiple in-game radio stations.

Features a standard third-person shooter UI with a mini-map, health and armor indicators, and an ammo count. The world map is used for navigation and tracking racket objectives. The story is presented through a unique documentary format, framing the gameplay as a retrospective investigation.

• SPECULATIVE PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. The minimum spec is based on developer suggestion (GTX 970), with other tiers extrapolated for a modern, highly optimized Unreal Engine 5 title.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop performance will vary based on the model's cooling and TGP. The game is noted for being 'hella optimized,' but a stable framerate is still crucial for PvPvE combat.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU is essential to handle the advanced graphical features of Unreal Engine 5 and maintain high framerates.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and intense, large-scale encounters will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the complex AI of the ARC and other players.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a competitive shooter.
• Game Name: ARC Raiders

• OFFICIAL AND EXTRAPOLATED SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS for Mafia III: Definitive Edition. This information is based on the official PC specifications from developer Hangar 13 and publisher 2K, adapted to the requested JSON structure. As an older title, the requirements are quite low by modern standards. Laptop and future-generation GPU listings are extrapolated for context and to show how modern hardware would perform.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop versions of the listed desktop GPUs require comparable performance. Given the game's age, most modern gaming laptops will run Mafia III: Definitive Edition at high settings and framerates without issue. However, a well-cooled laptop is still beneficial for maintaining consistent performance.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: While not critical for this title, a sufficient TGP ensures the GPU can easily handle the highest graphical settings and resolutions without performance drops.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game can cause sustained load during long sessions. Good cooling is beneficial to prevent any potential thermal throttling and maintain a smooth experience.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: The game is not particularly CPU-intensive by modern standards, but adequate power to the CPU will help ensure smooth asset streaming in the open world.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus can help reduce system latency, which is beneficial for the game's third-person shooter combat.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: Mafia III: Definitive Edition does not have official integrated support for upscaling technologies like NVIDIA DLSS or AMD FSR. Performance is based on native resolution rendering. The game was known to have performance issues at launch, particularly a 30 FPS cap which was later patched, but it may still be demanding on older hardware at max settings.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Performance is most affected by settings like Shadow Quality, Reflection Quality, and Volumetric Effects. Lowering these settings is the most effective way to improve framerates.
• Game Name: Mafia III: Definitive Edition

• Upscaling Tech: Mafia III: Definitive Edition does not have official integrated support for upscaling technologies like NVIDIA DLSS or AMD FSR. Performance is based on native resolution rendering. The game was known to have performance issues at launch, particularly a 30 FPS cap which was later patched, but it may still be demanding on older hardware at max settings.
• Key Settings Impact: Performance is most affected by settings like Shadow Quality, Reflection Quality, and Volumetric Effects. Lowering these settings is the most effective way to improve framerates.

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU is essential to handle the advanced graphical features of Unreal Engine 5 and maintain high framerates.
• Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and intense, large-scale encounters will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the complex AI of the ARC and other players.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a competitive shooter.

• G P U T G P: While not critical for this title, a sufficient TGP ensures the GPU can easily handle the highest graphical settings and resolutions without performance drops.
• Cooling Thermals: The game can cause sustained load during long sessions. Good cooling is beneficial to prevent any potential thermal throttling and maintain a smooth experience.
• C P U Power Limits: The game is not particularly CPU-intensive by modern standards, but adequate power to the CPU will help ensure smooth asset streaming in the open world.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus can help reduce system latency, which is beneficial for the game's third-person shooter combat.