It’s been a while since we last checked in on ARC Raiders, and a lot has happened behind the scenes. From seasonal events and balance patches to exploits being shut down and early hints at what’s coming next, Embark Studios has quietly been shaping the game into something far more refined than it was at launch.
Here’s a full breakdown of where ARC Raiders stands right now, what players have experienced recently, and why 2026 is shaping up to be an important year for the extraction shooter.
The Cold Snap Season Has Come and Gone
The biggest update in recent months was the Cold Snap seasonal event, which ran from mid-December through January. During that period, large sections of the Rust Belt were transformed by snowstorms, blizzards, and freezing conditions that dramatically changed how raids played out.
Visibility was reduced, movement became riskier, and a new frostbite mechanic punished players who stayed outdoors too long without shelter. It added a genuine survival layer to raids, forcing squads into tighter spaces and creating more unpredictable PvPvE encounters.
Alongside the weather changes came limited-time activities like the Flickering Flames event and the Candleberry Banquet project, both of which rewarded players with cosmetics, tokens, and progression items simply for playing during the season.
Cold Snap also introduced the free Goalie Raider Deck, which remains available as a permanent progression path even now that the snow has melted.
Post-Season Patches Focused on Stability
Once Cold Snap wrapped up, Embark shifted focus away from seasonal flair and onto tightening the core experience. Several patches landed throughout January that were smaller on paper, but important for the health of the game.
One update addressed duplication exploits and out-of-bounds glitches, including a long-standing issue around Stella Montis that some players had been abusing. Another patch rebalanced controversial items such as throwable explosives, adjusting detonation timing and damage falloff to prevent overly cheap kills.
Weapon tuning also continued, with certain high-fire-rate options being brought back in line. These changes didn’t reinvent the sandbox, but they did make firefights feel fairer and more predictable, especially in high-risk extraction runs.
Quality-of-Life Improvements Players Noticed
While some patch notes were brief, players quickly felt the impact of a number of quality-of-life changes. Skill point management became more flexible, allowing individual resets without the need for costly expeditions. Control options were expanded, and small but meaningful fixes were applied to lighting, collision, and spawn logic across multiple maps.
Blueprint progression also went through a turbulent period. Drop rates were briefly very generous, leading to a flood of high-tier gear, before being pulled back to more sustainable levels. The end result feels more balanced, even if the sudden change sparked plenty of debate.
Community Trends and Player Behaviour
One of the most interesting things about ARC Raiders right now is how differently people are playing it. A noticeable portion of the player base continues to focus almost entirely on PvE, scavenging, and survival, with many players still avoiding PvP encounters whenever possible.
At the same time, others are pushing the sandbox to its limits, experimenting with creative trap setups, explosive combinations, and unconventional weapon loadouts. Developer comments have even highlighted that some underused weapons are secretly among the highest PvE damage dealers in the game.
Not all discussion has been positive, though. Concerns around cheaters have grown louder, particularly from high-profile players and streamers. While Embark has taken steps to clamp down on exploits, stronger long-term anti-cheat solutions remain high on the community wish list.
Update Cadence and Communication
Another noticeable shift has been how updates are delivered. Embark moved away from weekly patch expectations and toward a steadier cadence, prioritising stability and larger grouped fixes over constant small tweaks.
This has helped reduce disruption, but it’s also led to some frustration when patch notes feel too light on detail. Transparency is something players clearly want more of, especially as the game matures and systems become more complex.
What We Know About 2026 So Far
While a full roadmap hasn’t been published yet, developers have teased that multiple new maps are planned for 2026, spanning different sizes and themes. Early hints suggest more extreme environments could be on the way, expanding beyond the current Rust Belt locations.
The focus appears to be on long-term variety, deeper endgame loops, and seasonal content that meaningfully changes how raids feel, rather than cosmetic-only events. If Cold Snap was a test run, future seasons could push environmental storytelling and survival mechanics even further.
Where ARC Raiders Stands Now
Right now, ARC Raiders feels like a game settling into its identity. The holiday spectacle is over, the exploits have been trimmed back, and the focus has shifted to balance, polish, and laying foundations for the year ahead.
It may not be making constant headlines, but behind the scenes, ARC Raiders is quietly evolving — and if Embark delivers on its teased plans, 2026 could be the year it fully cements itself as a long-term extraction shooter worth sticking with.
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