Arc Raiders Lands Its Biggest Cameo Yet; South Park Can’t Resist the Hype
November 30, 2025Arc Raiders has reached a new level of mainstream fame this week. The extraction shooter made a full-on cameo in the latest South Park episode. That’s not something just any game gets to claim, even at the height of launch popularity.
The cameo wasn’t just a background gag. According to Ashley St. Germain, marketing lead at Embark Studios, the production was a whirlwind. The South Park team reached out on a Monday, no less, requesting to feature Arc Raiders in their upcoming episode.
Embark Studios didn’t hesitate. They sent over game footage the very next day. By Wednesday, Arc Raiders was seamlessly woven into the storyline of “Turkey Trot,” the latest episode on air, and the game’s place in pop culture got a massive, on-screen stamp of approval.
Arc Raiders, South Park, and the Ongoing Love Affair With Gaming

The episode pulled no punches. In “Turkey Trot,” Tolkien is absolutely hooked on Arc Raiders, ignoring the chaos of South Park’s annual Turkey Trot fundraiser, which, *of course*, is desperately seeking new sources of cash and turning its eyes to Saudi Arabia for funding help. If that sounds familiar to anyone with an eye on the video game business, that’s because global investment drama is no stranger to the industry.
South Park has a rich history when it comes to lampooning and celebrating gaming culture. From the iconic “Make Love, Not Warcraft” episode to past jabs at Metal Gear Solid 5 and fond takes on Guitar Hero, the show knows exactly how to target gamer obsessions and industry quirks, and its writers are always up for poking fun at the tangled relationship between games, players, and the industry’s pursuit of cash.
The cameo wasn’t just a flash in the pan. Arc Raiders’ inclusion was a true spotlight moment, showing off actual in-game footage and locking in its spot alongside other titles that have been immortalised by South Park’s razor-sharp satire.
Arc Raiders: Still Riding the Wave Long After Launch

If you’ve even glanced at gaming news this season, you already know: Arc Raiders isn’t just another shooter. It exploded at launch, and weeks later, it’s still dominating online chatter. The South Park cameo is just the latest milestone in what’s shaping up to be a long, bright spotlight for Embark Studios’ creation.
The game’s runaway popularity has inspired dedicated play sessions, fan art, and heated debates. And crucially, Embark Studios is keeping up with the conversation. A recent patch targeted major frustrations, cleaning up notorious bugs and hammering out a quick swap exploit that players were using to snag an unfair edge in close-range combat. It’s a small moment of relief for the diehards who’ve stuck around, and a sign that the devs are set on keeping the game fresh and compelling as new players join the fray.
While Arc Raiders’ South Park turn is the headline, its ongoing presence in the new release spotlight shows just how tightly it’s gripped streamer communities and shooter fans alike. A quick scan through Eurogamer’s own review underlines a simple point: this game isn’t going anywhere soon.
So Arc Raiders now joins the short list of games that have been truly embraced by pop comedy royalty. For a shooter barely past its launch chaos, that’s impressive. For the fans, it’s just another reason to keep watching what Embark Studios does next.


