Arc Raiders 2026 Roadmap — Every Update Coming This Year

Embark Studios laid out the Escalation roadmap covering January through April 2026, with a major content update every month. Here's the full picture.

January — Headwinds (Patch 1.13.0) ✅

Released January 27, 2026

• Solo vs Squads mode for level 40+ players
• Bird City map condition on Buried City
• Trophy Display long-term project
• Loot rebalancing with higher-tier weapon drops
• Musical puzzle removed, guitar now purchasable

February — Shrouded Sky (Patch 1.17.0) ✅

Released February 24, 2026

• Hurricane map condition across four maps
• Two new ARC enemies: Firefly and Comet
• Surgeon Raider Deck (free, permanent)
• Controlled Access Zone with four-player co-op puzzle
• Major weapon balance pass (Stitcher, Kettle, Venator nerfs)
• Feat rerolling (three free rerolls per day)

The mid-February Shared Watch event (Patch 1.15.0) also brought back Cold Snap and ran a PvE-focused community event with "The Slugger" cosmetic rewards.

March — Flashpoint (Coming Soon)

Confirmed features:

• New map condition (details TBA)
• New ARC enemy — community speculation ties it to mysterious unidentified flying objects spotted in Shrouded Sky's skies
• Third player project (following the Trophy Display)
• Scrappy update — changes to the game's rooster companion

Flashpoint looks like it's continuing the escalation theme with increasingly dangerous threats. The new enemy is generating a lot of speculation.

April — Riven Tides

The crown jewel of the Escalation roadmap:

• Brand-new coastal map — the first new map since Stella Montis launched in November 2025
• Naval infrastructure including docks and shipyards
• Vertical gameplay with cliffs and piers
• New large ARC enemy comparable to the Emperor
• Fresh map conditions designed for the coastal environment
• Expedition window with lowered Stash requirements

Riven Tides is the most anticipated update on the roadmap. A new map always shakes up the meta and gives veterans a reason to explore again.

Second Expedition Window (February 25 - March 1)

Running alongside the Shrouded Sky update, the second Expedition window lets players reset progress for permanent rewards:

• 5 Skill Points
• Evolved Patchwork Outfit with new toggles and colors
• New Scrappy outfit
• Stackable bonuses: +10% XP, +12% Scrappy Material Drop Rate, +10% Equipment Repair Value

The required Stash value was lowered to 3 million Coins (600k per Skill Point), making it more accessible than the first Expedition.

Player Milestones

As of February 2026:

• 3.5 million peak concurrent players (all platforms)
• 465,000 peak concurrent on Steam alone
• ~6 million weekly active users
• 14 million estimated copies sold
• Online Game of the Year at the D.I.C.E. Awards 2026

Arc Raiders went from a promising tech test to one of the biggest multiplayer games in the world. The Escalation roadmap shows Embark isn't slowing down.