Embark Studios is shaking things up with ARC Raiders. With the release of Live Update 1.33.0, the developers have officially shifted the game to a bi-annual major expansion cadence. Instead of rushing out massive overhauls every month, the studio is moving to twice-a-year mega-drops to ensure a much deeper development impact. Don't worry about the game going quiet between those big milestones, though—a dedicated live-service team is now handling monthly patches, community milestones, and progression tuning.
The June 2026 patch brings plenty of fresh content to dive into right now, alongside a clear look at where the game is heading later this year. Here is a breakdown of everything live in the latest update.
The Converging Paths Project (June 16 – July 27)
The centerpiece of the June patch is "Converging Paths," a global community event running through July 27. This project tasks the entire player base with working together to clear safe passage for nomads, stockpile vital supplies, and dig up long-forgotten Topside relics.
The Display Case: As the community completes stages of the project, a shared Display Case will progressively fill up, visually showcasing the historical relics the community has recovered.
Exclusive Unlocks: Rolling up your sleeves pays off. Completing the event path unlocks a sleek Red-Black color variant of the Saltwalker Outfit, a Sextant backpack charm, and a handful of Raider Tokens.
Token Economy: If you are tracking your seasonal rewards, the tokens available in this patch bring the maximum earnable total for the season up to 300.
The Expedition Project Departure Window
For end-game players looking for a true test of strategy, the patch updates the Expedition Project departure cycle. This system lets you opt into a tactical progress reset in exchange for permanent account-wide upgrades. Think of it as a seasonal prestige system that actually honors your hard work.
Permanent Loot: Stepping through the departure window permanently locks down the Patchwork Raider outfit, the Scrappy Janitor Cap, an Expeditions Indicator icon, and up to +12 extra slots of precious Stash space.
Skill Points Multiplier: Your total wealth determines your future strength. You can earn up to 5 permanent skill points based on your current stash value, calculated at a rate of 1 skill point for every 1 million coins in total stash and coin worth at the exact moment you depart.
Temporary Account Buffs: To help you get back on your feet after the reset, departing grants temporary, stackable modifiers for your next few runs. You will get a 10% reduction in repair costs, a 5% XP boost, and a 6% increase in material yields from Scrappy. These account buffs stay active for up to three consecutive expeditions.
The New
Roadmap Cadence: Looking Ahead to "Frozen Trail"
Now that the early 2026 "Escalation" roadmap is officially wrapped—which successfully delivered the coastal Riven Tides map and high-stakes level 40+ matchmaking brackets—Embark is looking toward the horizon.
Under the new bi-annual schedule, the next massive milestone is locked in for October 2026 under the title Frozen Trail. Embark promises that this expansion will introduce completely overhauled progression systems and a thoroughly revamped skill tree. Players can also look forward to a massive injection of brand-new weapons, tools, instruments, and cosmetics when the autumn frost hits.