ARC Raiders Roadmap: January — April 2026

After the successful release of ARC Raiders in October 2025, players were introduced to a new extraction shooter from Embark Studios. In dangerous raids, they explore the surface, gather valuable resources, and return to Esperanza. Now, the developers of ARC Raiders have shared their roadmap for the next four months. In this article, we’ll break down what new content and changes await raiders in the near future.

January 2026 — Escalation and the Beginning of a New Phase

Although the Cold Snap has already passed, its consequences are still felt across the world of ARC Raiders. The major update planned for the first four months of 2026 is called Escalation, and it will mark the beginning of large-scale changes in the game. January opens a new phase in ARC Raiders’ development, laying the foundation for all upcoming updates in the following months.

The first step within Escalation will be the January update Headwinds. With it, a new matchmaking mode will be introduced for players level 40 and above, specifically designed for more experienced raiders.

In addition, the developers have prepared minor changes to the conditions on one of the available maps. These adjustments will affect gameplay and force raiders to adapt to new challenges.

February 2026 — New Challenges and Survival Conditions

In February, players will face the next phase called Shrouded Sky. The update will introduce a new type of enemy, location updates, and a mysterious new system called Raider Deck. On top of that, new weather conditions, Raider Deck mechanics, and the Expedition Window system will be added.

The appearance of new ARC enemies and changing weather conditions will make future raids even more dangerous — but no less exciting.

March 2026 — Expanding Content and Rising Threats

The March update, Flashpoint, will make the world of ARC Raiders even more dangerous and unpredictable. Players can expect new threats in the form of additional enemies, as well as new weather conditions that will directly affect how raids unfold.

In addition, the update will include the Scrappy Update — a series of changes and improvements aimed at refining gameplay elements and improving overall game quality. All of this will increase tension on the surface and prepare raiders for even larger challenges in future updates.

April 2026 — Escalation of the Conflict and Preparing for the Future

The April update, Riven Tides, will be the largest so far. Once again, players will encounter new weather conditions, but most importantly — an entirely new map and a massive ARC boss.

Considering that Queen was already enormous and required significant effort to defeat, April is sure to become a month full of new adventures and serious trials for raiders.

Conclusion

Although the developers of ARC Raiders have not revealed all the details of the upcoming updates, the published roadmap provides enough information to understand the game’s overall development direction. The first months of 2026 will mark the beginning of major changes that will gradually expand the game world and increase the difficulty of challenges for raiders.

In addition to the already announced updates, players can also expect new quests, Trial challenges, special events, as well as the introduction of new in-game items and cosmetic elements. All of this clearly demonstrates the developers’ commitment to actively supporting ARC Raiders with fresh content and preparing the community for even bigger changes in the future.