ARC Raiders is heading into 2026 with momentum, and developer Embark Studios is making it clear that things are only going to get more dangerous topside. A new Escalation roadmap has now been revealed, outlining what players can expect from January through April 2026, including new map conditions, rising ARC threats, fresh progression systems, and a brand new map later in the season.
📡 Attention, Raiders!
We survived the Cold Snap, but don’t drop your guard.
Topside is changing – extreme weather ravages the surface while ARC numbers are climbing.
Lock your loadout, the scale of the impending escalation remains unknown…https://t.co/t8P6I6KLcO pic.twitter.com/xV9t0BdIZb— ARC Raiders (@ARCRaidersGame) January 23, 2026
Following the end of the Cold Snap event, the world of ARC Raiders is shifting fast. Extreme weather continues to tear through the surface, ARC numbers are climbing, and the Rustbelt is becoming increasingly volatile as the scale of the impending escalation remains unknown.
The Cold Snap Ends, But The Danger Remains
The ARC Raiders team has warned players not to let their guard down after surviving the Cold Snap. While the harshest conditions may have passed, the effects still linger across the surface.
Topside is changing, extreme weather is now a permanent threat, and ARC activity is intensifying across key zones. Speranza continues to rely on Raiders scavenging the surface, but each run into the Rustbelt now carries greater risk as conditions grow more unstable and ARC presence expands.
The developers describe this phase as the beginning of a much larger escalation, one where no single faction holds all the answers.
Monthly Updates Begin With Escalation
Embark Studios has confirmed that ARC Raiders will now receive a content update every month going forward. The Escalation roadmap covers the game’s first full four months of 2026, offering a broad look at new enemies, map changes, conditions, and systems without revealing every detail.
Each month carries its own theme and set of additions, steadily building toward a major update in April.
January 2026 Headwinds Update
Despite January already being well underway, the Headwinds update still brings meaningful changes before the month wraps up. The standout addition is a new level 40 plus matchmaking option, giving higher level PvE and PvP players more freedom without being matched against significantly stronger Raiders.
January also introduces a new map condition teased by a bird icon, alongside a new player project designed to deepen progression and long term goals.
February 2026 Shrouded Sky Expands The Battlefield
February’s Shrouded Sky update continues the steady rollout of systems and threats. Players can expect a new map update, the arrival of the Raider Deck, an Expedition Window feature, and another player project.
More intriguingly, February introduces a new ARC threat and a fresh map condition marked by a wind icon, hinting at dangerous environmental changes that could dramatically alter how raids unfold.
March 2026 Flashpoint Brings Scrappy Back Into Focus
March ramps things up again with Flashpoint. Another ARC threat and new map condition arrive, alongside a fresh player project to pursue.
Scrappy, the fan favourite resource collecting rooster, is also set to receive an update as winter conditions finally begin to fade. While details are still limited, Embark has hinted that Scrappy will receive some long overdue attention during this phase of Escalation.
April 2026 Riven Tides Delivers A New Map And Major ARC Threat
April is shaping up to be the biggest moment of the roadmap. Riven Tides introduces an entirely new ARC Raiders map, alongside a new large scale ARC threat.
The threat is currently teased only by a skull icon, suggesting a powerful new enemy on the level of the Matriarch or Queen. The umbrella icon and Riven Tides title point toward coastal or water filled environments, potentially bringing beaches, flooded zones, and polluted shorelines into the fight.
This will mark the second new map since ARC Raiders launched, following Stella Montis which arrived in November 2025.
More Content Planned Beyond April
Embark Studios has made it clear that Escalation is only the beginning. While the roadmap currently runs through April, the team has confirmed that monthly updates will continue beyond that point, with plans from May onward still being kept under wraps.
The studio is also continuing its efforts to combat cheaters and improve quality of life, including addressing late spawns and tightening security across existing maps.
ARC Raiders launched on October 30, 2025, and with Escalation now underway, 2026 is shaping up to be the game’s most ambitious year yet. Raiders heading topside should lock in their loadouts and stay alert, the Rustbelt is only getting more dangerous from here.