ARC Raiders Celebrates 12 Million Sales with Latest Balance Patch

LONDON, 20 January 2026 – Embark Studios has rolled out Update 1.11.0 for its acclaimed extraction shooter, ARC Raiders, alongside announcing a major commercial milestone. The game has now sold over 12 million copies since its launch in October 2025. The latest patch delivers targeted nerfs to dominant PvP gear and fixes several exploits, while all players receive a celebratory golden pickaxe cosmetic.

Update 1.11.0: Refining the Battlefield

Deployed on 13 January 2026, the update’s primary focus was rebalancing two items that had come to dominate player-versus-player encounters. The Trigger ‘Nade, a sticky explosive favoured for mid-air detonations, has seen its trigger delay increased from 0.7 seconds to 1.5 seconds, giving targets more time to react. Its damage falloff has also been concentrated closer to the explosion’s centre.

Similarly, the Kettle submachine gun has had its fire rate reduced from 600 to 450 rounds per minute. Developers noted the previous rate was “only realistically reachable by players using macros,” creating an unfair advantage. The patch also fixed a key card exploit that allowed players to retain room keys after use and adjusted lighting on the Stella Montis Night Raid map to make flashlights more relevant.

To mark the 12-million-copies-sold milestone, a Gilded Pickaxe Raider Tool cosmetic was awarded for free to all players who logged in before 13 January.

Recent Update History & 2025 Roadmap

The launch period for ARC Raiders was characterised by a rapid cadence of updates, transitioning from weekly hotfixes to more substantial content drops. The much-anticipated “Cold Snap” winter update arrived in December 2025, introducing a snowfall map condition, the Flickering Flames event, and a new free Raider Deck.

This followed November’s “North Line” expansion, which added the new Stella Montis map and introduced two formidable new ARC enemies: the Matriarch and the Shredder.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the next major content update for ARC Raiders?

Embark Studios has confirmed ongoing updates throughout 2026 will include new map conditions, Feats, Trials, and cosmetics. While specific details for the next major expansion have not been announced, the studio’s cadence suggests new maps and ARC enemies are likely in development.

Does the game have a seasonal “wipe” cycle?

ARC Raiders introduced the “Expedition Project,” an opt-in progression reset system. Players who reach Raider Level 20 can choose to participate in an Expedition during a departure window, resetting their stash and quest progress in exchange for permanent account bonuses and seasonal rewards. This allows players to choose their own pace.

Are new maps added regularly?

Based on the 2025 roadmap, major new maps like Stella Montis are tied to larger content expansions. The current focus, as seen in the Cold Snap update, is on adding new dynamic conditions and events to existing maps to refresh the gameplay experience.