Recent ARC Raiders updates: what changed in 2026
Contents
Embark Studios supports ARC Raiders with regular updates — from small balance patches to major content additions with new maps and machines. Below is a timeline drawn from the official news archive at arcraiders.com/news.
Major content updates of 2026
- Patch 1.13.0 (January 27, 2026). Added the Solo vs Squad toggle for players level 40 and above with a +20% XP bonus, an “open party” feature, and a progressive anti-cheat system with 30-day bans, then 60-day bans, then permanent bans. This same version confirmed the official name of the base currency — Coins.
- Flashpoint (March 31, 2026). Added the Close Scrutiny map condition, the Vaporizer machine, the large stationary ARC Assessor machine, new weapons Canto, Dolabra, and Surge Coil, and simplified the crafting interface.
- Riven Tides (April 27, 2026). Added the new Riven Tides map, the ARC Turbine machine, fall gear Crash Mat and Powered Descender, and the Merits event currency.
More on the maps and machines from these updates in our pieces on maps and locations and ARC machines.
Smaller updates and seasons
The official news archive records a steady stream of smaller releases through summer 2026: The Fourth Expedition (June 25), the start of Trials Season 5 (July 1), and a run of Store/Live Update versions — 1.35.0 (June 30), 1.36.0 (July 7), 1.37.0 (July 14), 1.38.0 (July 21), 1.39.0 (July 28), 1.40.0 (August 4), and 1.41.0 (August 11). That means between major content additions, the studio ships nearly weekly smaller patches.
A new trader
On May 19, 2026, a separate announcement added a sixth trader — Ermal, who unlocks at level 25. This wasn’t part of any of the major content updates above; it shipped as its own release.
The newest announcement: Frozen Trail
On August 12, 2026, Embark Studios announced the Frozen Trail update, launching October 8, 2026. Per the official description, it’s the biggest update since launch: a new snow-covered mountain map, the Raider Den storage space being replaced with the new Outpost area, and expansions to the Skill Tree and Raider Decks. More on the progression changes in our piece on progression and the workshop.
What is officially NOT said
- A full list of weapon balance changes in each minor Store/Live Update isn’t detailed on the public news pages — headlines often don’t spell out a patch’s contents without opening the full notes, which we don’t reproduce verbatim here.
- The release date for the Stella Montis map as its own patch isn’t recorded in the sources we checked.
- Plans for updates after Frozen Trail (October 2026 and beyond) haven’t been officially announced.
- Whether Frozen Trail will be the last major addition of 2026 isn’t directly answered in the official materials.
How to follow updates yourself
The official and most reliable way is the News section at arcraiders.com, where Embark Studios publishes every patch as its own dated page. That’s the source this entire timeline was compiled from.
Frequently asked questions
What's the latest major ARC Raiders update?
As of this article's publication date, the newest announcement is Frozen Trail, revealed on August 12, 2026, and planned for release on October 8, 2026. The official website calls it the biggest update since launch.
What did the Flashpoint update change?
Released March 31, 2026: a new Close Scrutiny map condition, the Vaporizer machine, new weapons Canto, Dolabra, and Surge Coil, and an updated crafting interface.
What did the Riven Tides update add?
Released April 27, 2026: the new Riven Tides map, the ARC Turbine machine, fall gear Crash Mat and Powered Descender, and the Merits event currency.
How often do updates come out in ARC Raiders?
Per the official news archive, roughly every week for smaller Store/Live updates, and less frequently for major content additions like Flashpoint or Riven Tides.