ARC Raiders’ latest major update has landed, bringing new meta events and fresh content for players to dive into. But instead of smooth matches and exciting discoveries, many players are facing lag, disconnects, and unstable servers. While it initially looked like the new patch was the main culprit, the real problem turned out to be far more serious.
Embark Studios has confirmed that ARC Raiders, along with THE FINALS, is currently being targeted by coordinated DDoS attacks. These attacks are a major reason why servers have been struggling for hours, even as the team works to stabilize things.
Server Issues Began Early in Sweden
According to updates shared on the game’s official Discord, the first signs of trouble appeared around 03:30 local time in Sweden. Players began reporting lag, server instability, and connection issues not long after the new patch went live.
About an hour later, servers showed signs of recovery, giving players hope that the situation was under control. Unfortunately, that relief did not last long. Roughly three hours later, servers once again became unstable, with ongoing issues continuing for several more hours.
While conditions have improved since then, Embark Studios says the servers are still not fully stable.
ARC Raiders Servers Down? Here’s What We Know
As of 13:00 local time, nearly 12 hours after the first reports surfaced, Embark Studios confirmed the real cause behind the outages. The studio revealed that both ARC Raiders and THE FINALS are dealing with extensive and coordinated DDoS attacks.
Embark’s internal strike team has been actively working to mitigate the attacks and restore full stability. However, the developers noted that the attacks are persistent and well-coordinated, making recovery more challenging than usual.
Despite the ongoing disruption, the team says progress is being made throughout the day.
Bugs From the New Update Didn’t Help
On top of the DDoS attacks, the new Headwinds update also introduced several bugs and glitches. Many players have reported a major drop in looting speed, which has made scavenging feel noticeably slower than before.
Others have encountered more serious problems, including stability issues where characters become unable to move in-game. These bugs added to the confusion early on, making it difficult to tell whether the patch or the servers were at fault.
Embark Studios has since clarified that while the update did introduce some unintended changes, the widespread server instability is largely due to the ongoing attacks.
Hotfix Confirmed for Later Today
The good news is that a hotfix is already on the way. Embark Studios confirmed that a patch will be released later today to address several bugs and glitches caused by the Headwinds update.
According to the developers, the strike team is making “good progress” both on server mitigation and on fixing gameplay issues. While the DDoS attacks are still ongoing, Embark remains confident that stability will continue to improve.
Here’s the full statement shared with players on Discord:
Hey Raiders, both ARC Raiders and THE FINALS have been under extensive, co-ordinated DDoS attacks. The strike team has been working hard on mitigations and solutions to fix the problem, and we are making good progress – but at this point in time the attacks are still ongoing.
Additionally, the team is also working on a hotfix which will solve some of the issues and unintended changes introduced in yesterday’s update, we hope to have that available later today.
We’ll update you all on progress as we have more information to share!
Stay vigilant, Raiders – and we’ll see you Topside when we’re through this.
Should You Play ARC Raiders Right Now?
If you are planning to jump into ARC Raiders today, it might be wise to proceed with caution. With server instability still present, there is a real risk of disconnects or sudden server shutdowns.
That could mean losing valuable gear or progress through no fault of your own. Until Embark Studios confirms full stability, waiting it out may be the safer option.
What’s Next for ARC Raiders?
Despite the rocky launch of the latest update, Embark Studios has been transparent and communicative throughout the situation. Regular Discord updates and a confirmed hotfix show the team is actively addressing both external attacks and in-game issues.
In related news, Embark is also preparing to roll out a new anti-cheat ban system for ARC Raiders, signaling a stronger focus on long-term security and fair play. Meanwhile, players can check out guides like the Trophy Display Project to better understand progression, requirements, and rewards once servers fully stabilize.
Final Thoughts
DDoS attacks are frustrating for both developers and players, and unfortunately, ARC Raiders is feeling the impact right now. While the new Headwinds update introduced some bugs, the larger issue lies with coordinated attacks targeting Embark Studios’ servers.
If you’re eager to return Topside, keep an eye on official updates and wait for the hotfix before risking your loadout.
Stay updated, follow official announcements, and share your experience in the comments. Have you been affected by the ARC Raiders server issues? Let us know what you’ve encountered so far.
