ARC Raiders is about to get a whole lot more dangerous. Embark Studios has confirmed that the Flashpoint update is coming on March 31, 2026, and it is landing on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S all at once.
This is not a small patch. It is the third major content drop of the year, and the community is buzzing.
Someone Left the Doors Open
Embark dropped a teaser video showing the underground tunnels of Blue Gate, with the caption: “Someone forgot to close the Stella Montis doors on their way out.” The clip strongly hints that the deadly Shredder enemy is breaking out of Stella Montis and heading to Blue Gate.Â
That one detail alone has players on edge. Shredders are no joke, and having them roam a new map changes everything about how you plan your raids.
What Is Actually Coming
The headline changes are already confirmed on the roadmap. Flashpoint brings a brand-new ARC enemy, a lightning-based map condition, a Scrappy companion overhaul, and a new Player Project with fresh objectives and rewards.
The lightning map condition is the one drawing the most attention. Lightning strikes can damage both players and ARC units at the same time, creating chaotic combat situations mid-raid. It is expected to be more punishing than the existing Electromagnetic Storm condition.
On the enemy front, leaks from the game’s art director point to two possible new ARC types: a Rollerbot, described as a massive spherical ground unit that charges straight at players, and a Hammer, an aggressive flying drone that requires team coordination to bring down.
And for Scrappy fans, the wait is finally over. The mechanical rooster companion is getting a full upgrade, with a new in-game project that lets you add useful perks like acceleration boosts and damage buffs.
The Game Has Been Building Toward This
Flashpoint is the third update in ARC Raiders’ “Escalation” phase, which kicked off with Headwinds in January and will wrap up with Riven Tides in April.
Embark also did some smart housekeeping before dropping this update. The March 17 patch (Update 1.20.0) delivered a significant nerf to the I1 Toro shotgun, which had been dominating PvP combat, particularly in high-traffic areas like Stella Montis. Balancing that weapon first was a deliberate move ahead of a major content drop.
Just few hours ago, Embark also pushed hotfix 1.21.0, adding cosmetics including the new Spyglass Raider Tool with a distinctive white and gold design. Embark is clearly saving the big gameplay changes for March 31.
When Can You Play It
The Flashpoint update goes live on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Here are the exact times by region so you do not miss the moment it drops:
| Timezone | Launch Time |
|---|---|
| PDT (Pacific Daylight Time) | March 31 at 2:30 AM |
| CDT (Central Daylight Time) | March 31 at 4:30 AM |
| EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) | March 31 at 5:30 AM |
| BST (British Summer Time) | March 31 at 10:30 AM |
| IST (India Standard Time) | March 31 at 3:00 PM |
| JST (Japan Standard Time) | March 31 at 6:30 PM |
| AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time) | March 31 at 8:30 PM |
The patch weighs in at 10 to 15 GB and will download automatically on Steam, PS Store, and Xbox platforms. No new hardware requirements either, so you are good to go on your current setup.
What Comes After Flashpoint
Next up in April is Riven Tides, the final and largest update of the Escalation season. It is expected to bring a flooded coastal map, tense water-based mechanics, and a giant boss on the scale of the Queen.
The roadmap is packed, and Embark is clearly not slowing down.
Are you ready for the Flashpoint update? Follow ARC Raiders on X for the latest teasers, and bookmark this page for full patch notes when they drop on March 31. Drop your loadout plans in the comments below!
