Here's what I think Arc Raiders should fix first going into 2026

Embark Studios’ Arc Raiders has a tense, action-first core that already stands out in the extraction space, but several systems need work before the game moves deeper into 2026. The combat delivers, the plumbing around it does not.

Don’t make progression a single checkbox

Right now the Expedition Project functions like the progression system rather than one option among many. Players sink time and materials into a wipe because the payout is usually the clearest path to new slots and perks. That creates a strange loop where most progression choices funnel into the same endpoint, and players feel like they must wipe to move forward. The community is already debating this, see how players reacted when the first wipe rolled through the Expedition Project.

Arc Raiders needs parallel progression tracks with smaller milestones that feel meaningful and don’t force a full reset. More regular, bite-size rewards for crafting, missions, and skill play would break the monotony and make leveling feel earned instead of gated.

Add a second layer to the endgame

The combat remains exciting, but once a raider hits the cap the available activities get repetitive. The Expedition Project can be a destination, but it shouldn’t be the only destination. What the game needs is more dynamic, high-risk content that actually pulls players out of conservative playstyles.

Ideas that would work: rotating high-value POIs so fights don’t funnel to the same spots, minimum-gear thresholds for certain late-game events, and player-driven tasks that reward using the weapons you find. Simple changes like shifting event timing away from strict real-world hours would also stop punishing non-peak players.

Prioritize stability over new features

Players are running into new exploits almost weekly. From desync and crashes to spawn camping and one-way angles, these problems erode trust faster than any new map can repair it. Late spawns that place players in clear sight lines create predictable ambushes and ruin tense encounters. At least, they should make it so that players going in with a full loadout should spawn in the early match, rather than randomly and late when all the loot is gone.

Before adding major content, Embark should tighten server performance, fix the worst spawn angles, and shut down the recurring exploits that let a handful of players break matches. Solid foundations make risk meaningful; broken foundations make loot pointless.

Make wearing good gear worth the gamble

Right now, upgraded grey gear and mid-tier attachments often match or beat the high-end options. That kills risk-taking. If a Bobcat or a legendary doesn’t give a clear edge or unique feel, why bring it into raids? Arc Raiders should make high-tier weapons and augments feel distinct with new passive effects, situational bonuses, or stash multipliers for loading in with top-tier gear would change the calculus and pull more meaningful fights into the late game.

Bottom line

Arc Raiders has the bones of a great extraction shooter. The studio needs to widen progression paths, cut down menu tedium, add a second layer of endgame risk, and fix the technical issues that undermine fair play. If those things are addressed early in 2026, the game can keep the combat players love and give them reasons to keep coming back.

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