Game engine
Runs at your business
Game state, automations, timers, controls, and device communication stay close to the rooms they operate.
Installed at your business
Your games run on your computer—not in somebody else’s cloud
ARC is real installed software. The system responsible for games, room logic, hardware, audio, and displays stays at your escape room business and keeps operating when the internet is unavailable.
Internet access is still used where it makes sense—licensing, downloads, updates, account management, and optional cloud services—but it is not the computer running your rooms.
Staff access
Normal web browser
Authorized computers and displays on your network connect to the ARC computer without installing the full server everywhere.
Cloud services
Optional add-ons
Remote messaging and off-site backups can be enabled without moving room control into the cloud.
What runs on the ARC computer
Game state and timers
The active game, objective state, timers, hints, quick actions, and staff controls are served from the ARC computer.
Automations and room logic
Native When/If/Do automations, scenes, variables, delays, and device actions execute where the hardware is located.
Hardware communication
ARC talks to gateways, brokers, PLCs, lighting tools, smart devices, and custom props across your local network.
Displays, audio, and media
Player displays, text-to-speech, audio, video, and room media are delivered from your own ARC system.
What uses the internet
ARC is not disconnected software. It uses online services for the jobs that genuinely need central coordination.
Account and licensing
Portal, subscriptions, and license validation
The ARC Portal manages your business account, locations, subscription, downloads, and the license connected to each installation.
Software delivery
Downloads, release notes, and updates
New versions and installer packages are delivered through ARC’s online release services and customer Portal.
Optional services
Cloud Connect and Cloud Backup
Enable Slack or Discord messaging and off-site recovery archives when they help your operation. Neither is required to run a game.
Why installed software matters during games
- An internet outage does not stop the active game engine or local device communication.
- Hardware commands do not need to make a round trip through a remote cloud service.
- Your room configuration and operational data remain on systems you control unless you enable an optional service.
- Staff have one known ARC computer and local network to check when troubleshooting.
Installed software is the practical difference
ARC installs on a computer at your business, and your rooms continue running there. Staff still use familiar browser screens, and optional online services still work when you choose them.
The important distinction is ownership of the game-control path: ARC does not turn your escape room into a thin client that waits for a remote service before the room can react.
Next step
Try ARC on the network and hardware you already have
Download ARC and try it free. Install the real system on your own computer and test the actual architecture on your own network and hardware.