ARC Raiders Shrouded Sky launches Feb. 24 with Hurricane map condition

Players can load ARC Raiders now that Shrouded Sky is live on February 24, Arcraiders confirmed, bringing a new Hurricane map condition that the developer and community outlets say will alter movement, combat, visibility, equipment management, and loot distribution. Metaforge calls the Hurricane "by far the most complex map condition the game has introduced to date," and notes the update drops as the Shared Watch Event wraps up.

The Hurricane changes navigation with wind effects that can make tailwinds feel "fast and nimble" while fighting intense headwinds inhibits movement, a detail highlighted in community previews and Metaforge’s breakdown. Visibility will be severely reduced by "low-hanging clouds and driving wind" that shroud the surface in "near-impenetrable haze," Metaforge warns, adding that "ARC units can appear without warning, transforming routine patrols into terrifying jump-scare encounters." Metaforge also advises players to prioritize audio; "the ability to distinguish the groan of ARC servos from the howl of the wind may mean the difference between a successful extraction and a total wipe" and recommends investing in a good pair of headphones.

Shield interactions are a central battlefield tradeoff. IGN and Metaforge both report that the winds will "cause problems with your shields," increasing the chance of taking direct damage, while EUTOPIA’s preview is explicit that debris can strike and even make shields glitch or spark, degrading protection and making you more visible to other Raiders. EUTOPIA’s video, posted February 19 on the EUTOPIA channel which lists 43,100 subscribers, directly described shields "glitch[ing] here and spark[ing] if it is struck by small items," and the clip had 19,458 views and 460 likes at the time the preview was captured.

Shrouded Sky also adds new rewards and map risk. Metaforge names "First Wave Caches" as rare supply stashes unearthed by the storm that "contain exceptionally valuable loot." Arcraiders' official post flags a new high-security Controlled Access Zone in Dam Battlegrounds marked by the "Rocketeer chandelier" and teases "rumors quickly spread of new ARC prowling the surface among the fog," though no model name or stats for the new ARC threat were provided.

Cosmetic updates arrive alongside gameplay changes. Arcraiders announced "Facial hair is coming to a Raider near you" with the Stubble free to all players at launch, the Full Beard unlockable in the Surgeon Raider Deck, and the Stubble Beard and Thick Moustache available in store from February 24. The Volare Set is confirmed for release on February 24 while the Devotee Set is "coming soon," per Arcraiders' update.

Expect technical downtime and plan to auto-update. IGN recommends setting your client to auto-update for a patch expected to be roughly 6 to 8 GB and notes a typical 1 to 2-hour maintenance window. Frvr lists historical go-live times at approximately 1:30 AM PST in Los Angeles, 4:30 AM EST in New York, 9:30 AM GMT in London, 10:30 AM CET in Berlin, 6:30 PM JST in Tokyo, and 8:30 PM AEDT in Sydney and advises monitoring the official Arc Raiders X account for minute-level adjustments. Second Expedition sign-ups begin February 25 with the Expedition launching March 1, Metaforge reports, meaning the next wave of timed content follows immediately after Shrouded Sky. As Arcraiders closed its blog post, "As always, good luck out there, Raiders.