ARC Raiders has issued enforcement actions following a duplication exploit while confirming that its next major update, Shrouded Sky, will launch on February 24. Here’s what Embark Studios shared about both announcements.
ARC Raiders Addresses Exploit Abuse, Confirms Update
Enforcement Actions Announced
ARC Raiders developer Embark Studios announced on February 17 in an official blog post that it has concluded its investigation of a recent duplication exploit and will issue enforcement actions against accounts found to have abused it, while separately confirming in a post on X that the Shrouded Sky update launches on February 24.
In an official blog post, Embark Studios addressed a duplication exploit first reported on February 10 that allowed players to duplicate quick-use items such as Trigger ’Nades, ziplines, barricades, noisemakers, and rubber ducks without limits. These duplicated items flooded matches and gave players an unfair advantage over others.
Embark Studios said penalties will vary depending on severity, intent, frequency, and overall impact. Lower-severity cases may result in warnings, while some players may have in-game coins gained through exploit activity removed from their accounts. Suspensions will be reserved for severe cases, particularly where the exploit significantly affected other players or the in-game economy.
"Our goal is to keep the game fair for everyone," Embark wrote, adding that it aims to hold all players to the same standard.
The studio acknowledged that some players questioned the time it took to issue penalties, stating, "We understand the desire for fast action, especially when both gameplay and the economy suffers." However, Embark emphasized that enforcement decisions must be based on what it can "define, prove, and stand behind."
According to the post, the review process included validating player reports against internal data to confirm how the exploit was used and how widespread it was. Embark Studios said it also worked to separate accidental cases from intentional abuse and evaluate how much the exploit affected the game’s economy and competitive integrity. This was the first time they handled an incident of this scale in ARC Raiders, and they chose to fully understand the situation rather than act prematurely.
The developer also confirmed improvements to its detection systems, internal review tools, and safeguards to better limit the impact of similar exploits moving forward. Embark said it will continue monitoring for confirmed issues and encouraged players to report problems through official channels.
Shrouded Sky Launches February 24
In other related news, Embark Studios announced that ARC Raider’s next major update, Shrouded Sky, will launch on February 24. As stated in their 2026 roadmap, the update will introduce a mix of new threats, progression systems, and map changes.
The update includes a new map condition, teased in an 11-second video showing a wind vane spinning continuously. In ARC Raiders, map conditions are environmental modifiers that alter how raids unfold by affecting visibility, movement, and survival mechanics. Previously introduced conditions, such as Cold Snap, which brings freezing weather that can cause frostbite, and Electromagnetic Storms, nighttime events featuring lightning and extreme conditions, have significantly changed how players approach expeditions.
Shrouded Sky will introduce a new ARC threat, adding another type of enemy for players to encounter during raids. The update expands progression systems with a new Player Project and a new Raider Deck. Embark Studios has not yet outlined how the new Player Project will operate, but previous Projects in ARC Raiders have taken the form of longer-term objectives that provide structured goals and progression-related rewards. The Raider Deck serves as a reward track where players spend Cred earned through challenges to unlock cosmetics and gear.
Other content updates include a map update and the start of the second Expedition window, another scheduled expedition day for players.
Shrouded Sky is part of the early 2026 "Escalation" phase of updates, a sequence of content drops that began with Headwinds in January and will continue with additional expansions in the months afterward.
ARC Raiders is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Epic Games Store. For more information on the game, check out our related article below.
Source:
An Update On Recent Exploits And Corrective Actions
ARC Raiders Roadmap: January - April 2026
ARC Raiders on X
