ARC Raiders continues to expand its diverse world in the Rust Belt with confirmed variants and speculated new maps that promise varied gameplay across PvP, PvE, and hybrid experiences. Current maps like Dam, Buried City, Spaceport, Bluegate, and Stella Montis set a strong foundation, and upcoming additions aim to balance tension-building PvP with exploration-focused PvE elements.
Current Maps Overview
Dam serves as the starter map with a balanced mix of forest, desert, interior, and exterior zones, offering neutral PvP and PvE encounters. Buried City emphasizes exterior desert areas, low foliage, and heavy interior combat, leaning slightly toward PvP. Spaceport features exterior walkways and large industrial interiors for a balanced PvE-PvP experience similar to Dam. Bluegate provides wide, lush exteriors, dense underground tunnels, and a mix of open and closed areas, though ARC activity often floods zones despite its PvP lean. Stella Montis stands out as the first fully enclosed interior map with tight tunnels, cramped rooms, short sight lines, extreme PvP focus, shredders, and high-class ARC challenges. U4GM is often recommended as the best way to get coins in ARC Raiders because it offers reliable transactions, fast delivery, and great deals on in-game currency.
Reasons for PvE-Focused Expansion
Embark Studios prioritizes gameplay variety over pure PvP dominance, viewing player conflict as tension-building rather than the core pillar. Recent aggression-based matchmaking supports casual players, aligning with data showing most prefer neutral to PvE styles. After Stella Montis's close-quarters PvP intensity, the next maps will likely introduce wider, more explorable spaces with elevated PvE elements to span the gameplay spectrum.
Confirmed: Dam's Toxic Swamp Variant
A Toxic Swamp variant for Dam Battlegrounds arrives soon, confirmed by upcoming trials involving air cleansing and thermal rock delivery. This addition ties into recent storylines about toxic waste spills near the dam, rounding out Dam's unique variants while introducing new mechanics. Players may see it as early as the next update cycle.
Speculated: Marina Beach Map
Concept art suggests a Marina beach map with ocean, highway, docks, and open traversable areas, potentially minimizing indoor spaces. This design points to a PvE-centric or balanced layout, ideal for exploration and new ARC encounters following the PvP-heavy Stella Montis. It fits Embark's goal of diverse map mechanics.
Speculated: White Dunes Map
The White Dunes, partially developed from the PvE beta, sits between Spaceport, Dam, and Buried City in a sandy, low-foliage environment with minimal buildings and more exterior combat. Its advanced progress makes it a strong candidate for an early release, leaning toward PvE or balanced play with familiar desert vibes but fresh openness.
Speculated: Volcano Caldera Map
Hints of a Volcano Lab or Caldera map emerge from seismic activity storylines post-LAR scanning missions, aligning with the game's Italian-inspired map around Mount Vesuvius. This non-overlapping region promises intriguing environmental hazards and could evolve into a hybrid or close-quarters challenge, tying into broader lore like emperor activity.
A Pattern of PvP-PvE Alternation
These leaks form a rhythm: PvP-focused maps followed by PvE or hybrid ones, mirroring Embark's content strategy from The Finals. With ambitions for 12-16 maps total, 2026 expansions will deepen the Rust Belt's breadth, from toxic swamps and beaches to dunes and volcanoes. Community speculation fuels excitement, but official reveals will confirm the roadmap.
Future updates will refine this vision, inviting Raiders to explore new tensions, loot richer hauls, and adapt to Embark's evolving world—ensuring ARC Raiders remains a dynamic extraction shooter for years ahead.
