Embark is starting to sketch out what comes next for ARC Raiders.
ARC Raiders is gearing up for a busy year ahead, with Embark Studios dropping fresh hints about its 2026 plans, even though the full roadmap is still under wraps. In a recent interview with GamesRadar, the developer teased multiple new maps, evolving gameplay ideas, and a stronger focus on how players move through its hostile sci-fi world.
While Embark has yet to publish an official roadmap, the interview suggests the studio already has a clear vision for how ARC Raiders will grow after pulling in more than 12 million players in just a few months. From larger spaces to more experimental map conditions, 2026 looks set to push the game further beyond simple content drops.
The roadmap is coming, but Embark is still locking things in
In the interview, ARC Raiders design lead Virgil Watkins confirmed that players will not be left in the dark forever, even if details remain fluid for now. According to Watkins, “sometime soon, I believe we're going to be putting out a chunk of a roadmap for the upcoming months,” though he added that Embark is still deciding the exact cadence for updates.
Rather than committing to rigid deadlines, the studio is taking a reactive approach. Watkins explained that some decisions are shaped by how players are engaging with ARC Raiders right now, while others are about pushing the experience forward in meaningful ways. New maps, weapons, objectives, and enemies are all on the table, but they will be rolled out gradually across the year rather than dumped all at once.
The goal, Watkins suggested, is to make each update feel like an event. Embark wants players to see a new ARC Raiders update and immediately feel that it offers something cohesive, both thematically and mechanically, rather than just another location to loot.
New maps are a priority, and a few could be even bigger than expected
One of the clearest takeaways from the interview is that maps are central to Embark’s 2026 ambitions. Watkins confirmed that “there are going to be multiple maps coming this year,” with each designed to offer more than a visual change of scenery.
When asked about scale, Watkins compared existing locations like Blue Gate, Spaceport, Buried City, and Stella Montis. While Blue Gate feels massive due to its layout, Spaceport is technically the largest in terms of land area. That distinction matters when planning future environments, especially as Embark balances size, density, and performance.
Looking ahead, the studio is not locked into a single formula. Instead, Embark is interested in pairing new maps with new experiences. That could mean different weather conditions, altered map rules, new enemy compositions, or more valuable and rarer loot pools. Stella Montis was highlighted as a good example, having introduced higher-tier tech, new blueprints, and exclusive enemies like the Shredder.
Every new space is built around how players actually play
Beyond raw size, Embark is paying close attention to how new maps change player behaviour. Watkins described the studio’s thinking as less about constant escalation, and more about creating fresh decision-making moments.
That might mean encouraging different uses for existing tools. Zip lines, mines, and noise makers can all take on new importance depending on a map’s layout and enemy pressure. By reshaping how familiar equipment fits into new spaces, Embark hopes to keep ARC Raiders feeling fresh without overwhelming players with entirely new systems every update.
This design philosophy also ties into pacing. Enemy spawn rates, travel times, drone density, player clustering, and loot distribution are all adjusted to ensure that each map has its own rhythm. The aim is to make every location feel distinct in how encounters unfold, rather than just reskinned versions of the same experience.
Performance still sets the limits
As ambitious as Embark’s plans sound, the interview also highlighted the practical constraints behind the scenes. Watkins openly acknowledged that server and client performance play a major role in shaping new maps.
There is only so much the servers can handle in terms of player count, enemy activity, and ARC presence before things start to break down. Client performance matters just as much, especially on maps with long sightlines or dense urban spaces. Watkins pointed to Dam Battlegrounds as an example of a map that already pushes the limits due to its complexity and visual range.
These technical considerations influence everything from map size to enemy density, ensuring that new content remains playable and stable, rather than ambitious but broken.
While players await the official Arc Raiders roadmap, Embark’s comments make one thing clear. 2026 is shaping up to be a year of steady expansion rather than one-off drops, with multiple new maps, evolving gameplay ideas, and updates built around how the community actually plays. If Embark can balance ambition with performance, Arc Raiders looks set to keep its momentum going well into the year ahead.
