ARC Raiders: new vendor and major changes for future updates

Embark Studios has announced that major changes are coming to ARC Raiders, the popular extraction shooter that launched in August 2025. With strong player engagement and continued sales, it’s clear the game has been a commercial success.

Changes to squad size

Experiments are currently underway with squad size in ARC Raiders. Executive Producer Aleksander Grøndal has confirmed that the team is considering raising the current three-player squad limit. This could open the door to supporting larger groups in response to the challenges players are facing. However, it’s important to note that this adjustment has not been officially locked in yet.

Change to the update cycle

One of the biggest changes is that ARC Raiders will move away from its monthly update cycle. Instead, the studio will switch to two major content updates per year. Embark Studios has acknowledged that the pressure to ship updates every month was not sustainable, both for the developers and for players. This should allow updates to be larger and more meaningful, with the goal of improving player engagement.

Late-game content and ecosystem changes

A new vendor, known as the Trader, will be added this month for players who have reached level 25. This vendor offers weekly rotating rewards in exchange for valuable and rare items. In addition, the Trader introduces two new perks: Extra Stash, which lets players expand their storage capacity, and Expedition Vault, which allows up to five items to be carried during expeditions.

These changes are meant to extend the player experience and introduce new gameplay systems that weren’t possible under the old update schedule. The studio is also keeping a live team available to handle balance and bug fixes, as well as smaller content updates.

Future plans for ARC Raiders

The developers have said they are taking the future of ARC Raiders seriously and want deeper player involvement. This includes further improvements to the game’s progression systems, which could lead to new ways for players to explore the world of ARC Raiders. Early plans also hint at a future where humanity may be able to reclaim the surface.

The next major update, called Frozen Trail, is scheduled for release in October and promises a substantial new environment, including new enemies, unlockable objectives, and an improved skill tree. Such a large expansion requires a lot of preparation, and Embark Studios has said it aims to dramatically reshape the gameplay experience through this refreshed approach.