Arc Raiders is experiencing severe server instability following the 1.13.0 “Headwinds” update, with players across regions reporting extreme lag, rubber-banding, and full disconnects that frequently wipe entire loadouts.
Quick explanation: The heavy lag and rubber-banding many Arc Raiders players are seeing right after the latest update are not typical local connection issues but widespread server instability, worsened by coordinated DDoS attacks against Embark’s infrastructure. Until the servers are fully stabilized, expect runs to be at risk and consider avoiding high-value kits.
Arc Raiders lag state after the 1.13.0 Headwinds update
After the Headwinds (also called Highwinds/Headwinds) 1.13.0 patch went live, Arc Raiders began showing a consistent pattern of network problems:
- Raids where every player in the session rubber-bands at the same time, sliding back and forth over the same few meters.
- High packet loss and latency indicators locking red, even for players who report no problems in other online games.
- Matches that hang on the loading screen, fail to finish loading into a raid, or crash back to the hub.
- Downed or stuck characters that cannot move, followed by a timeout that counts as a death and deletes the kit.
- Extractions that visually complete (button pressed, bar filled, animation finished) but do not register, leaving players to die and lose everything they were carrying.
Players describe losing legendary weapons, high-value blue or purple kits, Bastion and Matriarch runs, and entire inventories because the game stops accepting inputs or desyncs and then resolves in favor of enemy damage.
Why Arc Raiders is lagging after the update
Two overlapping issues are driving the current lag:
- The 1.13.0 Headwinds patch significantly changed backend behavior and appears to have increased strain on matchmaking and game servers, leading to high ping spikes, delayed loot interactions, and slow or failed raid loads.
- Embark reports that both Arc Raiders and THE FINALS are under “extensive coordinated DDoS attacks,” which flood network capacity and make otherwise stable servers feel unpredictable and unresponsive.
This combination turns normal latency into a gameplay-breaking problem. Instead of a minor delay, players experience:
- Entire rooms cleared, then suddenly “rewound” so they are teleported back inside and killed by enemies they already defeated.
- Being unable to hit enemies like wasps or ticks or even sprint away, because positions keep snapping back.
- Safe-pocket transfers and inventory moves failing or never registering before a crash.
On PC, some players also note that an Nvidia graphics driver rolled out on the same day, but the reports span PS5 and non-Nvidia hardware as well, and the shared symptoms line up with server-side instability rather than client rendering issues.
Developer acknowledgement and current stance
Embark has publicly acknowledged the server problems tied to this window. Recent status messages state that:
- Servers have been “experiencing instability” with the team actively investigating.
- As of the latest notices, servers are “stabilizing,” but players are advised to be careful when logging in.
- DDoS attacks against Arc Raiders and THE FINALS are ongoing, while mitigation work continues.
Community relays from official channels also mention that players are being asked not to log in during peak disruption so the team can better distinguish malicious traffic from normal play.
There are mixed reports on compensation. Some players say lost gear was restored via in-game messages, while others state that support tickets were denied and that no blanket refund policy has been announced. Nothing indicates guaranteed restoration for every lost kit.
What this means for your runs right now
Until Embark fully stabilizes Arc Raiders’ servers and completes DDoS mitigation, key points are:
- Lag spikes are a known, widespread issue, not necessarily a problem with your home connection.
- Any raid can abruptly become unplayable, especially when calling extract, engaging high-value targets, or near the end of long runs.
- Deaths and failed extractions that happen during these spikes are currently treated as normal losses by the progression system.
- If you want to minimize risk, avoid loading in with your most expensive or irreplaceable kits while instability and attacks are still active.
For the moment, Arc Raiders can feel stable in one match and completely break apart in the next, even on the same hardware and network. The underlying issues are known and being worked on, but until official channels confirm that the attacks have stopped and server stability work is complete, every run carries an elevated chance of being cut short by lag rather than by ARC.
