ARC Raiders is a cooperative third-person shooter where you and your squad of Raiders unite to resist the onslaught of ARC – a ruthless, mechanized threat descending from space.

In ARC Raiders you enter a vast and lethal world.

People have fled to the underground colony of Speranza, seeking supplies to survive, and shelter from ARC machines on the surface. Demand for resources is at an all-time high, but venturing the surface to get them is a risky job. 

You enlist as a Raider, fighting for your own survival and that of your neighborhood in the underground colony — scavenging and hunting for resources that must be extracted back safely from the surface.  Standing in your way are ARC machines — a mysterious, deadly foe — as well as other players — Raiders — who are also competing for loot and their own survival. 

To grow as a Raider, you must make it back down to the colony alive. There, you get to meet the traders of Speranza to trade your loot and valuables, embark on quests, upgrade and improve and expand your chambers, and grow your character to suit your playstyle — to become the Raider that you want to be.

Whether teaming up or going solo, it’s a game that rewards thinking ahead and carefully observing the world around you, rather than running into action guns blazing. The gameplay is tactile, visceral, and grounded, with a rich and playful sandbox of gadgets and tools, beyond just guns and ammo. 

Embark Studios announced Headwinds, the third free update for ARC Raiders, continuing the game’s post-launch evolution by expanding how players approach each run through new matchmaking options such as Solo vs. Squads and expanded party features, alongside a new Bird City map condition that alters how Buried City plays.

The update also includes additional content including new quests and a new long-term player project, as well as quality of life improvements. The ARC Raiders Headwinds update launches Jan. 27 on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and NVIDIA GeForce NOW, and will be available at no additional cost to all players.

Matchmaking Expands Player Choice

New matchmaking options broaden how Raiders enter each run by supporting different playstyles and experience levels. Solo vs. Squads matchmaking becomes available to Raiders who have reached level 40, allowing experienced solo players to opt into squad queues for higher-stakes encounters. Solo Raiders who choose this option receive bonus XP at the end of each run, regardless of outcome.

Group play is also streamlined in ARC Raiders through Open Parties and expanded Squad Invites, giving players more flexibility in how they join and organize sessions. Parties can be set to open so friends can join between matches, while squadmates can now invite additional players directly, reducing friction and downtime between runs.

The Birds Take Over Buried City

A new rotating minor map condition arrives in Buried City with the introduction of Bird City, reshaping how Raiders move, fight, and survive across the map. Flocks of birds settle into rooftops and chimneys, dropping their prized items, and drawing players in search of loot upward into more vertical combat spaces and tighter encounters. The condition rewards bold traversal and situational awareness, offering high-risk, high-reward opportunities through rooftop routes and chimney caches that can contain valuable materials and rare trinkets, while increasing player proximity and encounter frequency across the map.

“Headwinds is about opening up new ways for the community to approach ARC Raiders and additional challenges for advanced players,” said Virgil Watkins, design director at Embark Studios. “Between the expanded matchmaking options, new map condition and new player project, we’re excited to see how Raiders adapt and experiment — and we can’t wait to see the unexpected, funny moments and short clips the community starts creating as the update rolls out.”

New Objectives Take Shape Across Speranza

Additional content in Headwinds introduces new goals for Raiders to pursue over both short and long timeframes. The update adds ARC Trophy Display,, a long-term Player Project that challenges players to hunt increasingly dangerous ARC enemies and submit their parts in exchange for progression rewards. Advancing through the project unlocks new items and cosmetics tied to player achievements including rarer blueprints and Raider Tokens.

New quests are also introduced, providing fresh objectives that encourage exploration and varied approaches to each expedition. These additions are accompanied by a range of smaller gameplay updates and quality-of-life improvements, reinforcing ARC Raiders’ focus on evolving objectives and sustained engagement.

Looking Ahead - Escalation and Beyond

Embark Studios recently shared a four-month roadmap outlining updates planned for ARC Raiders through April 2026. as part of a commitment to monthly content updates throughout the rest of the year. The Escalation roadmap positions the Headwinds update as the start of a broader cadence of updates building towards a new map, new map condition and new large ARC, with additional releases scheduled in the months ahead, including the “Shrouded Sky” update planned for February and the “Flashpoint” and “Riven Tides” updates rolling out across March and April respectively.

February’s update “Shrouded Sky” brings a new extreme weather-based map condition, a map update, a new player project and a new ARC threat, along with a further free Raider Deck. The Cold Snap has passed, but its danger casts a long shadow. More extreme weather will continue to test Raiders as they scavenge the surface for resources that keep Speranza functioning.

Scavenge the ruins of the past. Wield tools and gadgets to outsmart the enemy. Use on-the-fly tactics, your surroundings, and physics to your advantage. Defeating ARC requires more than simply pointing and shooting a gun, and more than one person trying to be a hero. It’s a game that both emphasizes and rewards teamwork at every turn. If you and your squad play well together, one day the stars may again become beacons of hope, instead of omens of oblivion.

Loot your fallen foes, and scavenge the ruins of the past for tools and gadgets to outsmart the enemy. Come prepared and plan ahead, but remember that sometimes you just have to wing it.

ARC Raiders is available for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC (Epic Games Store, Steam, Nvidia GeForce NOW) at $40.