Everything in Arc Raiders' Escalation and 2026 Roadmap

1. Games
2. Third Person Shooters
3. Arc Raiders

Everything in Arc Raiders' Escalation and 2026 Roadmap Guides By Joel Franey Contributions from Austin Wood published 23 January 2026

The Escalation roadmap in Arc Raiders covers everything coming in January, February, March and April 2026

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Embark) Jump to:

• Escalation Roadmap
• New map

Share Share by:

• Copy link
• Facebook
• X
• Whatsapp
• Pinterest
• Flipboard
• Email

Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google

Arc Raiders' Escalation has been revealed, a roadmap for the first four months of 2026 that outlines much of what players can expect in the game's future updates and patches. Arc Raiders has been an incredibly active game since its initial release, with new content being added regularly, but this is the first time we've got a sense of what to expect long-term, with a long-term plan between January and April. Below we'll cover everything we've seen in the Escalation roadmap for Arc Raiders, what we know, and what players need to prepare for – because it seems like things are about to get all the tougher.

What's in Arc Raiders Escalation Roadmap?

(Image credit: Embark Studios)

Escalation, AKA the current 2026 roadmap, has now been revealed, and is broken up into four months of content for Arc Raiders, laid out as follows.

• January: "Headwinds"
  • New matchmaking option for Level 40+ players
  • New Minor Map condition (probably the datamined Arc Raiders Toxic Swamp update)
  • Player Project
• February: "Shrouded Sky"
  • New map condition
  • New Arc threat
  • Player Project
  • Raider Deck
  • Map Update
  • Expedition Window (see our guide on Arc Raiders Expeditions for more info)
• March: "Flashpoint"
  • New map condition
  • New Arc threat
  • Player project
  • Scrappy update
• April: "Riven Tides"
  • New map
  • New large Arc
  • New map condition
  • Expedition window
• Also announced:
  • New quests
  • New feats, trials and events
  • New gameplay items
  • New cosmetics
  • Quality of life updates
  • "And more"

The promotional image tied to Escalation shows some imagery for each month – smog for January, a stormy night for February, computer terminals for March and some sort of beach for April – which helps narrow down what we can expect, assuming that these are suggestive of the content to come.

You may like

• Arc Raiders 2026 roadmap revealed: exclusive matchmaking for lvl 40+ players, "new large Arc," beach map teased
• Arc Raiders roadmap confirms new map Stella Montis, expanded quests, 2 new Arcs to fight in November, and a new Raider Deck battle pass for December
• Arc Raiders dev teases 2026 roadmap, and maybe some new maps "even grander than what we've got now"

New Arc Raiders map revealed

(Image credit: Embark Studios)

April announces that a full new map will be coming to Arc Raiders, and while it doesn't say what it is, the promotional art gives three major clues: the fact that sandy coastline is shown behind April, that the "new map" entry is marked with an icon of a beach umbrella, and that the month's content itself is labelled "Riven Tides", all of which seems to be heavily implying that the new Arc Raiders map is likely to be a beach or coastal map, though that hasn't been officially confirmed at time of writing. Either way, it looks like it'll be the first major map since the Arc Raiders Stella Montis underground region was added in November 2025.

Arc Raiders ApricotsArc Raiders Prickly PearsArc Raiders AndroidsArc Raiders MushroomsArc Raiders Rusted Gears

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. CATEGORIES PS5 Xbox Series X PC Gaming Platforms PlayStation Xbox Joel FraneySocial Links NavigationGuides Editor, GamesRadar+

Joel Franey is a writer, journalist, podcaster and Very Tired Man with a BA from Brunel University, a Masters from Sussex University and a decade working in games journalism, often focused on guides coverage but also in reviews, features and news. His love of games is strongest when it comes to groundbreaking narratives like Disco Elysium, UnderTale and Baldur's Gate 3, as well as innovative or refined gameplay experiences like XCOM, Sifu, Arkham Asylum or Slay the Spire. He is a firm believer that the vast majority of games would be improved by adding a grappling hook, and if they already have one, they should probably add another just to be safe. You can find old work of his at Eurogamer, Gfinity, USgamer, SFX Magazine, RPS, Dicebreaker, VG247, and more.

With contributions from

• Austin WoodSenior writer

Show More Comments

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Logout Back To Top Read more Arc Raiders 2026 roadmap revealed: exclusive matchmaking for lvl 40+ players, "new large Arc," beach map teased    Arc Raiders roadmap confirms new map Stella Montis, expanded quests, 2 new Arcs to fight in November, and a new Raider Deck battle pass for December    Arc Raiders dev teases 2026 roadmap, and maybe some new maps "even grander than what we've got now"    Winter is coming to Arc Raiders next week: Embark reveals Cold Snap update release date    "Will this blow up the server?": Arc Raiders players are so good at killing Arc that Embark eyes ways to "escalate" PvE    Everything in the Arc Raiders Cold Snap event and when it launches    Latest in Third Person Shooters How to resupply yourself and your teammates with the Supply Pack in Helldivers 2    Tips for beating the new Helldivers 2 Commando Missions and the best gear    Arc Raiders 2026 roadmap revealed: exclusive matchmaking for lvl 40+ players, "new large Arc," beach map teased    Arc Raiders players have found a real-life Stella Montis in Italy, and they're leaving hilarious reviews    Everything we know about Arc Raiders Toxic Swamps    Marvel Rivals streamer kicked out of tournament given $3,000 in donations, equaling the first prize if he'd competed    Latest in Guides Arknights Endfield tier list and best characters    Everything in Arc Raiders' Escalation and 2026 Roadmap    Complete Quarantine Zone contraband list and how to deal with internal contraband    How to get free pulls in Arknights Endfield    Arknights Endfield cross progression and how to cross save    How to reroll in Arknights Endfield    GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

1. 1Looking for a good 2-player board game? This superhero adventure is worth suiting up for
2. 2Trails Beyond the Horizon review: "This JRPG's thrilling real-time and turn-based combat evolves Metaphor ReFantazio's hybrid battles, making up for a poorly paced adventure"
3. 3Scythe review: "This alt-history board game is still a gold standard for modern strategy"
4. 4Skate Story review: "A beautiful and unique skateboarding game with great, stylized visuals set in a grungy underworld"
5. 5Octopath Traveler 0 review: "The strongest entry in this retro-styled JRPG series yet, I love the greater focus on tactical battles"

1. 1Return to Silent Hill review: "Neither an impressive adaptation nor coherent enough to act as a standalone film"
2. 228 Years Later: The Bone Temple review: "The wildest and weirdest entry into the franchise yet"
3. 3Avatar: Fire and Ash review: "Still a technical marvel, with some of the year's best action filmmaking"
4. 4Five Nights at Freddy's 2 review: "We have waited two years for a Five Nights at Freddy's 1.5"
5. 5Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery review: "Brings Knives Out back to its roots for a sequel that's almost on a par with the original"

1. 1Wonder Man review: "A low-key gem that's up there with the MCU's best"
2. 2Starfleet Academy review: "It may feel a little different to what we're used to, but this is Star Trek through and through"
3. 3A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review: "This Game of Thrones spin-off is a surprisingly heartfelt and fun return to Westeros"
4. 4Stranger Things season 5 finale review: “Shows off both the best and the worst of Hawkins”
5. 5Stranger Things season 5, Volume 2 review: “All set up for a finale that has so much to deliver”