Embark Studios Cuts ARC Raiders Updates to Twice a Year for Bigger Changes

Embark Studios is changing its update strategy for ARC Raiders. The studio will move from monthly updates to two major updates per year. The change is intended to deliver more impactful and transformative updates.

New update cadence aims for transformative content

Smaller events, store updates, and bug fixes will continue more frequently. The next major update is planned for October 2026. It will feature the largest map, a new ARC operation, and a new progression system. A new Trader and Expedition Vault will arrive next week.

Embark Studios explained that the monthly cycle limited how impactful updates could be. The studio said the pace was not sustainable for its bigger ambitions. The additional development time will also allow investment in game health, including progression, economy balancing, fair play, and anti-cheat efforts.

The studio acknowledged that some progression improvements require more development time than a monthly cycle allowed. Moving to larger updates will enable more refinement of systems players engage with most. Embark Studios has not confirmed the exact date of the October update.