Embark Studios has shared its plans for ARC Raiders, promising a steady stream of new content. Their roadmap extends to April 2026, and the initial updates will be released under the banner of ‘Headwinds’.
Live-service games like ARC Raiders need regular updates to stay exciting, and it’s been a while since the last major event, Cold Snap. Thankfully, a new update called Headwinds is coming soon to bring fresh content to the game.
Find out when the Headwinds update is coming to ARC Raiders, plus a look at all the new content it includes.
When Does ‘Headwinds’ Release In ARC Raiders?
Embark Studios announced that the Headwinds update will be released for ARC Raiders on January 27, 2026.
The initial release plan for ARC Raiders included content scheduled for January, which was unexpected since the month was almost finished. It seems Embark Studios had plenty in store, though, and new content is coming very soon.
The Headwinds update will arrive with the standard ARC Raiders update schedule. If you’re not sure when those are, TopMob has a helpful list available below.
| Time Zone | ARC Raiders Headwinds Release Times & Dates |
|---|---|
| Pacific Time (PST) | 1:30 AM—January 27 |
| Central Time (CT) | 3:30 AM—January 27 |
| Eastern Time (EST) | 4:30 AM—January 27 |
| Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) | 9:30 AM—January 27 |
| Australian Eastern Time (AET) | 8:30 PM—January 27 |
All ‘Headwinds’ Confirmed Content For ARC Raiders
The Headwinds update for ARC Raiders will include three new content additions, as previously shared in our development plans.
These are the following:
- New Matchmaking Option Level 40+
- New Minor Map Condition
- New Player Project
Right now, we don’t have many details about The Player Project. It looks like it will be similar to past projects, requiring you to complete five steps and submit items to earn rewards. However, what the new Minor Map Condition and Matchmaking Option will actually do is still unknown.
Players believe the next map condition will likely be a sandstorm. This idea comes from the recent roadmap image and the title ‘Headwinds.’ If true, this condition would probably only affect the Buried City and possibly Spaceport maps, as a sandstorm across The Blue Gate doesn’t seem very plausible.
The new matchmaking feature seems designed for players level 40 and above. This likely aims to prevent cheaters – who often create new, low-level accounts – from spoiling the game for higher-level players who have invested time in acquiring good equipment.
If we learn anything new about the Headwinds update before it releases, TopMob will update this article with the information.
I’m really curious about the new Headwinds ARC Raiders update! I’m wondering if it’s going to give the game that extra boost it needs. I’m heading over to the official TopMob Discord to see what everyone else thinks – you should join the discussion too!
For more ARC Raiders, check out TopMob’s ARC Raiders meta guns tier list.
Charlie Champion
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2026-01-26 16:19