Ethan Crossfield 
Steam’s Free Weekend promotion is back after a one-week pause, giving PC players three premium games to try without an upfront purchase. The October 8-12 lineup covers extraction shooting, survival crafting, and large-scale World War II combat, although the games do not all leave the promotion at the same time.
A varied Steam lineup returns
Steam usually makes a selection of paid games temporarily free to play from Thursday through the weekend. The promotion is designed to let players sample a full game before deciding whether to buy it, and participating titles commonly receive a discount after the free period ends. This week’s selection includes ARC Raiders from Embark Studios, Core Keeper from Pugstorm, and Squad 44 from Offworld.
Core Keeper is the standout choice for players who prefer cooperative progression. Its underground world combines mining, base construction, farming, fishing, exploration, and boss encounters. The game has a 94% Very Positive rating from more than 20,000 Steam user reviews, but its roughly 30-hour length makes completing it before the promotion ends unrealistic for most players.
Three games, three different ways to play
ARC Raiders is an extraction shooter set in a post-apocalyptic world dominated by deadly machines. Players can explore alone or with a squad, gather equipment and resources, then attempt to extract safely while dealing with both ARC threats and other players. Its Steam rating is 81% Very Positive from more than 200,000 reviews. The game is free until October 12 at 1 a.m. PT / 4 a.m. ET, with a 50% purchase discount available through October 15.
Squad 44 takes a more deliberate approach. This military simulation focuses on large World War II battles, with infantry, medics, engineers, machine gunners, tank crews, logistics, artillery, and defensive positions all contributing to the outcome. It has a 79% Mostly Positive rating from more than 11,000 reviews. Squad 44 remains free until October 13 at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET, and its 70% discount lasts through October 15.
Check the expiration time before downloading
Core Keeper has the most conventional deadline, ending on October 12 at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. It will then be available at 40% off through October 22, reducing its price from $19.99 to $11.99. ARC Raiders falls off the free list much earlier on October 12, while Squad 44 lasts into the following day.
The staggered schedule makes it important to check each title individually rather than assuming every game ends at the same time. Players interested in all three should prioritize ARC Raiders first, then Core Keeper and Squad 44.
Key points
- ARC Raiders is free until October 12 at 1 a.m. PT / 4 a.m. ET.
- Core Keeper is free until October 12 at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET.
- Squad 44 is free until October 13 at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET.
- Post-promotion discounts range from 40% to 70%.
Steam Free Weekend schedule
| Game | Genre | Free until | After-promotion discount |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARC Raiders | Extraction shooter | October 12, 1 a.m. PT / 4 a.m. ET | 50% off through October 15 ($19.99) |
| Core Keeper | Open-world survival co-op | October 12, 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET | 40% off through October 22 ($11.99) |
| Squad 44 | Military simulation | October 13, 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET | 70% off through October 15 ($5.99) |
Expert View
This promotion offers a useful cross-section of multiplayer design rather than three similar trials. ARC Raiders tests high-risk extraction, Core Keeper emphasizes long-term cooperative progression, and Squad 44 rewards communication and coordination. The different deadlines and follow-up prices also give players a clear reason to try the games now while preserving a lower-cost purchase path for those who stay engaged.
