Trouble is brewing in the Rust Belt as ARC Raiders kicks off 2026 with its January Update 1.13.0. From extreme sandstorms to strange bird activity in Buried City, the surface is becoming more dangerous than ever.

This update delivers high-risk PvP options, long-term progression content, new map conditions, and a huge list of fixes and quality-of-life improvements.

What’s New in Update 1.13.0

Solo vs Squads Matchmaking

A new challenge designed for elite Raiders who thrive on PvP.

• Available for solo players level 40 and above
• Allows solo players to queue against full squads
• Grants +20% bonus XP on both extraction and defeat
• Ideal for high-skill, high-reward gameplay

Trophy Display – New Long-Term Project

A fresh progression system focused on hunting powerful ARC enemies.

• Build a Display Case across 5 stages
• Each step adds a visual item to your base
• Rewards include:
  • Blueprints
  • Raider Tokens
  • Final completion rewards:
    • Howl emote
    • Guitar
    • 300,000 Coins
• No end date and unaffected by Expedition resets

Bird City – New Buried City Map Condition

Buried City receives a major environmental update.

• Birds now nest in chimneys across the map
• Some nests contain valuable trinkets
• Weekly rotating map condition
• Features:
  • More bird traps
  • Additional ziplines
  • Increased rooftop combat
  • More flying ARC and player encounters

New Items

• 2 new Epic Augments added to the game

Patch Highlights & Improvements

• Open Parties – Friends can join even while you’re in a round
• Squad Invites – Squadmates can invite players, not just leaders
• Mouse smoothing option added
• Full gamepad button rebinding
• Improved voice chat stability and clarity

Gameplay, Map & Bug Fixes

• ARC enemy traversal improved
• Leaper movement enhanced after limb loss
• Tick grab now allows a brief dodge-roll escape
• Loot balance adjustments across multiple maps
• Dozens of collision, extraction, and stuck-spot fixes
• Buried City musical puzzle removed (guitar now purchasable from Shani)
• Stella Montis lighting, loot distribution, and extraction issues resolved

Anti-Cheat Update

A three-strike ban system is being rolled out:

• First ban: 30 days
• Second ban: 60 days
• Third ban: Permanent ban

Known Issues

• Solo vs Squads unlock lacks a level-up notification
• Some Raider Token cosmetics may not appear in menus
• Occasional missing skill point display (fixed after reboot or another match)