Embark Studios has shared some of its plans for Ark Raiders in 2026 to keep the game fresh for veteran players. The roadmap covers the first four months of 2026 (January to April) and lists new quests, feats, trials, events, gameplay items, cosmetics, quality of life changes, and more. Please let me get into the story.

January – Headwind

Earlier this year, Embark will be adding a new matchmaking option for levels 40 and above, which looks like it will be a separate lobby for experienced players. It’s unclear if this matchmaking will automatically apply to players level 40 and above, but it’s a great idea to improve the first steps for beginners to Ark Raiders.

The game also adds new minor map conditions. This refers to temporary modifiers that are applied to maps to change the experience without changing the fundamentals. This seems to have something to do with birds, as evidenced by the Roadmap logo and players noticing bird nests scattered throughout the map.

The last one is the player project. This is a kind of temporary event that asks you to do certain things or collect resources to progress and unlock gifts, like December’s Candleberry project.

February – Covered sky

Next month we should get a new map state, this time not a minor one. That means it’s likely to be something similar to a cold snap. There have been some rumors about toxic wasteland-like conditions, but it’s unclear if this will be the case. We should also expect new Ark threats, AI enemies, perhaps small robots, or something map-exclusive like Stella Monteith’s Shredder.

In addition, another player project will be launched, some maps will be updated, and an expedition window will open for those who want to participate in the season wipe. As a reminder, expeditions give you nice bonuses like extra storage slots and skill points.

March – Flashpoint

Once again, the game gets new map conditions to survive, arc threats to battle, and player projects to accomplish. The most notable part here, however, is the mention of an update for Scrappy the Rooster, which could hint that there will be some improvements to the way he passively collects items.

I hope this is a buff because what you’re currently getting from Scrappy is too little to care about. It would be great to allow him to offer big-ticket items from time to time. Otherwise, I would appreciate it if you could choose which resources to collect.

April – Torn Tide

This is definitely the biggest update in the series, and it adds a new map that apparently has something to do with beaches, if the logo and background image are to be believed. This involves a different map situation, maybe a tsunami or something.

In addition, this month brings another large Ark, which refers to medium-sized robots such as Bastion and Bombardier, or giant bosses such as Queen and Matriarch. I prefer the latter, especially if it brings a new gameplay style. A flying boss would be great.

Finally, those who are ready for a road trip can participate in the wipe again and get even more bonus points on top of their previous gains. For those who don’t know, you can stack multiple expedition bonuses (up to 3), giving you 15 extra skill points and 36 extra storage space, just to name a few.

Overall, there’s a fair amount of content, especially in April. Assuming Embark keeps things the same, one map condition per month and a new map every four months, the game should stay fresh. I also hope for some improvements mentioned in my list 7 ways to change your game for the better It will be implemented someday. After all, keep in mind that these are just board content plans and are subject to change.