The surface was never safe. Now it’s turning against you.
ARC Raiders is about to crank up the danger, as Embark Studios has officially revealed the Hurricane map condition, as part of its upcoming Shrouded Sky update. The news was shared on the studio’s website on 19 February, 2026, alongside a new trailer showing violent winds ripping through the Rust Belt and transforming familiar raid zones into something far more hostile.
The Hurricane will fundamentally change movement, visibility, and combat across the Rust Belt
According to Embark, the Hurricane strikes on 24 February and introduces what it calls “several intense gameplay challenges” tied directly to the storm.
Wind is the biggest shift. The studio explains that “the wind will change how you navigate topside.” With a tailwind you will feel faster and more nimble, but pushing into the gale will slow you down and rapidly drain stamina. Throwables will not behave as expected either, meaning grenades and other items will require players to relearn their timing and trajectory. Smoke, gas and even jumping are also affected by the force of the storm.
Debris becomes a constant threat. Embark notes that shields were “not built to handle this onslaught,” with flying fragments causing them to glitch and spark as they take hits. Staying shielded in the open will degrade your protection and make you more visible to rival Raiders, forcing a real risk versus reward decision mid-raid.
Visibility takes another hit, as low clouds make the surface “almost unrecognisable”. Limited sightlines mean ARC units can become an unwelcome surprise, but the chaos cuts both ways. Going shield-less in the storm can make it harder for other players to spot you.
There is opportunity in the wreckage. Embark says rumours are circulating of valuable Raider Caches, relics of the First Wave, unearthed by the ferocious winds. Survive the elements, navigate ARC threats and outplay other Raiders, and you may walk away with more than just bragging rights.
Shrouded Sky follows January’s Headwinds update and continues the game’s 2026 roadmap, with Flashpoint arriving in March and Riven Tides introducing a new map in April. On 24 February, the storm hits. Whether you hide or head straight into it is up to you.
