ARC Raiders Details Big New Update for January 2026

The third major update for ARC Raiders is launching on January 27, and it’s bringing with it some exciting changes to the wildly popular live-service extraction shooter game. ARC Raiders hit the scene near the end of last year and was an immediate success, quickly becoming one of the most popular new game releases in all of 2025. The extraction shooter game has continued to keep its dedicated fans engaged while simultaneously drawing in new players, and that’s largely thanks to its updates.

Since launch, ARC Raiders has received regular updates, addressing technical issues with the game as well as adding new content to the experience. In November, ARC Raiders released the North Line update, which added the new Stella Montis map, fresh ARCs to battle, and more. Then in December, ARC Raiders players were treated to the Cold Snap update, which covered maps in snow, among many other things. Now ARC Raiders fans need to prepare for the next big update, dropping on January 27.

ARC Raiders Players Think Embark Just Made a Big Change to the Game’s Matchmaking

Some ARC Raiders players believe developer Embark Studios may have just quietly made a huge change to the game’s matchmaking system.

On January 27, ARC Raiders will officially release the Headwinds Update, the third major update for the extraction shooter. As part of the Headwinds update, ARC Raiders will be introducing new matchmaking options to give players more control over their experience. This includes new Open Parties that let friends join between matches and Squad Invites that let players invite others directly through the game. Perhaps the most interesting matchmaking change coming in the January 27 update, though, is the new Solo vs. Squads option that will be available to players that have hit level 40. Solo ARC Raiders players that choose Solo vs. Squads will get bonus xp in exchange for taking on the much more challenging experience.

The Birds Are Taking Over

The Headwinds update will also make ARC Raiders‘ Buried City a little more interesting. A new rotating map condition will make it so flocks of birds leave prized items on rooftops and chimneys in the Buried City, encouraging players to perhaps visit locations on the map that they haven’t been to before. These bird drops will also make it likelier that players will run into each other in the Buried City, which could go a long way in making matches even more intense. A big part of ARC Raiders is the social experience, and it sounds like the Headwinds update will increase encounters in the Buried City.

Another change coming with the Headwind update is a new ARC Trophy Display that lets players turn in ARC parts for progression rewards that include items, cosmetics, achievements, blueprints, and Raider Tokens.

Headwinds is the First of Many Big Updates in 2026

Prior to detailing the big ARC Raiders January update, Embark Studios released a roadmap to give fans an idea of what to expect from the extraction shooter in the year ahead. The January update will of course be followed by the February update, titled Shrouded Sky, which includes new extreme weather for maps, a new ARC to fight, and more. The Flashpoint update will follow in March, and finally, there will be the Riven Tides update in April.

The Riven Tides update will include a brand-new map for ARC Raiders players to check out, so it will likely be especially exciting for fans. Regardless, all these updates are adding up to ensure that Embark Studios has a healthy pipeline of new content for fans to enjoy, and it will be exciting to see how the extraction shooter continues to grow in the months ahead.