Why is Embark Studios changing its update strategy?

The studio is moving from monthly updates to major bi-annual updates in order to deliver much more ambitious and structured content, rather than regular but less substantial additions.

When will the next major update arrive?

The next major update is expected in October, according to statements from Embark Studios.

What are players criticizing about this new strategy?

Players are concerned about the game becoming more repetitive and lacking long-term goals once quests and extractions are mastered, especially during the long waits between major events.

Will there still be updates between major releases?

Yes, Embark assures that smaller technical and balance patches will continue to be delivered between major milestones to keep PvP and competitive extraction at their best.

"It's a scandal" ARC Raiders players are furious about the upcoming updates

Embark Studios has decided to shuffle the deck when it comes to ARC Raiders' content roadmap. After several months of monthly updates like Flashpoint or Headwinds, the studio is changing its strategy: major content additions (typically a major update) will now only be bi-annual, with the next "major" expected in October. The decision is rubbing the community the wrong way, as players are already worried about the repetitiveness of the activities and the lack of long-term goals once dozens of quests and extractions have been mastered.

Developers are promising, on the other hand, much more ambitious patches featuring new Expedition activities, brand-new map conditions, in-depth rebalancing of weapons and progression, and potentially new types of ARC threats to face. Embark assures that more modest technical and balancing patches will keep being delivered between these big milestones to keep PvP and competitive extraction at the top of their game. It remains to be seen whether this "less often but more massive" approach will be enough to contain the frustration linked, among other things, to the overly narrow time windows of certain Expeditions, or to the lack of purpose between two major events. Raiders will therefore have to be patient... and sharpen their builds for October. Unless they've moved on to something else by then?!