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| ARC Raiders screenshot |
If you’ve been dropping into the world of ARC Raiders since its launch, get ready to explore. The developers at Embark Studios have confirmed that 2026 will see the arrival of multiple new maps, and they’re making a clear promise: each one is being designed to offer a distinct experience, not just a resized version of somewhere you’ve already been.
In a revealing interview with GamesRadar, Embark’s design lead, Virgil Watkins, laid out the studio’s vision for the year ahead. While the team isn’t quite ready to share the full, detailed roadmap, Watkins confirmed it’s coming soon and will outline a wave of new content rolling out over the next several months. This isn’t just about new places to fight; players can also expect new weapons, enemies, objectives, and gameplay systems.
A Roadmap Shaped by Players and Vision
Perhaps the most interesting takeaway is Embark’s philosophy for these updates. Instead of locking themselves into a rigid, predictable schedule, the team is watching how the community plays. Some updates will be direct reactions to player behavior and feedback, while others are pre-planned initiatives to push the game in bold, new directions.
Every major content drop is being built around a strong central theme. The goal is for each update to feel like a cohesive event—a new chapter in the ARC Raiders story—rather than just another item on a checklist.
"Some of it is reacting to the things you're talking about here, like how players are actually engaging with the game," Watkins told GamesRadar. "But a lot of it for us is trying to see how we can move the experience forward."
He emphasized the importance of that thematic punch: "Thematically, gameplay-wise. How do the enemies and the items and the experiences in that map all point toward something?... That's what we're trying to template out for the coming months."
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| ARC Raiders screenshot |
Variety is the Name of the Game
When it comes to the maps themselves, players should expect a real spectrum. Size is a variable, not the objective. Watkins confirmed we’ll see some smaller, more focused locations alongside others that could dwarf current arenas like Blue Gate or Spaceport.
The real focus is on how each map plays. The team is experimenting with different environments, enemy compositions, loot quality, and even dynamic conditions that force players to adapt their movement and combat strategies.
"There are going to be multiple maps coming this year, and I think it's going to be across a spectrum of size to try to facilitate different types of gameplay," Watkins said. "So you might see some that are smaller, and you might see some that are even grander than what we've got now."
New maps will also serve as vehicles for fresh gameplay ideas. The studio points to the Stella Montis map as a template; it introduced rarer loot, new blueprints, and exclusive enemies like the Shredder. Future locations will follow suit, offering unique rewards and encouraging Raiders to rethink their loadouts and tactics.
Ambition vs. Stability
Watkins was also candid about the technical challenges of map creation. Elements like server performance, player count, enemy density, sightlines, and overall pacing are all critical factors that shape a map’s final design. He noted that some existing maps are already pushing technical limits, meaning the team constantly balances its creative ambitions with the need for stable, smooth performance.
The message from Embark is clear: ARC Raiders in 2026 is about evolving and expanding the experience in meaningful ways. It’s not just about adding more content, but about adding the right content that keeps the gameplay loop fresh, challenging, and thematically exciting. Keep an eye out for that roadmap—it looks like the fight against the ARC is about to get a lot more varied.