Shrouded Sky is the second major update in ARC Raiders' Escalation roadmap, scheduled for February 2026. Following January's Headwinds patch, this content drop represents the most feature-dense month on the current schedule, introducing a new map condition, a new ARC enemy type, map changes, a fresh Raider Deck, another player project, and the opening of the second Expedition window.
Quick answer: Shrouded Sky arrives in February 2026 with no confirmed exact date yet. Community speculation points to the week of February 22–24, given that Embark Studios typically releases updates on Tuesdays and the Expedition window opens on February 22.
Expected release timing
Embark Studios has not announced a specific launch date for Shrouded Sky. The Escalation roadmap lists it under February, and the second Expedition window is confirmed to open on February 22. Since Embark favors Tuesday deployments, the most likely candidates are February 10, February 17, or February 24. Players tracking the pattern note that Headwinds launched on January 27, making a mid-to-late February window probable to avoid back-to-back major drops.
New map condition
Shrouded Sky introduces what the roadmap describes as a major map condition, contrasting with the minor Bird City modifier added in Headwinds. The update's name suggests weather or visibility mechanics—possibly heavy cloud cover, storms, or atmospheric interference similar to the existing Electromagnetic Storm event. Some community speculation points toward a heat wave mechanic mirroring December's Cold Snap, though nothing official confirms this.
Major map conditions typically affect loot spawns, ARC behavior, and extraction timing. Expect condition-specific blueprints and altered container distributions across affected maps.
New ARC threat
A new enemy type joins the ARC roster in February. The roadmap labels it simply as a "new ARC threat," distinguishing it from the "new Large ARC" promised in April's Riven Tides update. This suggests a standard or mid-tier enemy rather than a boss-class machine like the Matriarch or Queen.
Player speculation includes the possibility of Shredders appearing on maps beyond Stella Montis, though Embark would likely not market an existing enemy as a new threat. A ground-based walking ARC or an aerial variant tied to the Shrouded Sky theme remains plausible.
Map update
Shrouded Sky includes a map update, though Embark has not clarified whether this affects a single location, multiple maps, or the broader Rust Belt world map. Previous patches have addressed collision issues, extraction glitches, and spawn locations across Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, Spaceport, and Stella Montis. February's changes could range from terrain adjustments to entirely new points of interest.
Raider Deck
A new Raider Deck accompanies the update. Raider Decks function as ARC Raiders' battle pass equivalent, offering cosmetic rewards and progression incentives. January's Headwinds introduced the Sandwalker cosmetic set; February's deck will likely follow a similar structure with themed skins tied to the Shrouded Sky narrative.
Player project
Shrouded Sky adds another player project to the rotation. Headwinds introduced the Trophy Display project, a permanent (non-time-limited) progression track where players collect ARC parts to unlock Blueprints, Raider Tokens, an emote, a legendary Guitar, and 300,000 Coins. February's project has not been detailed, but the pattern suggests another collection or contribution mechanic with tiered rewards.
Expedition window
The second Expedition window opens in February, confirmed for February 22. Expeditions allow players to reset their character in exchange for permanent rewards—a soft prestige system. The first window ran in late 2025, and Embark has indicated plans to rework Expeditions after this second cycle based on player feedback regarding reward value and required objectives.
To participate, players must meet inventory value thresholds and complete specific preparation tasks before the window opens. The UI displays Expedition sign-up requirements in the Projects menu.
What Shrouded Sky does not include
Shrouded Sky is not the update that adds a new map. That arrives in April with Riven Tides, which also introduces a new Large ARC. March's Flashpoint update sits between them, bringing another map condition, another ARC threat, a player project, and a Scrappy update. The Escalation roadmap covers January through April only; Embark has teased additional content beyond that window without specifics.
Shrouded Sky represents a significant content injection for ARC Raiders, stacking multiple systems changes into a single month. Players preparing for the Expedition window should focus on accumulating inventory value and completing any outstanding project contributions before February 22. The new ARC threat and map condition will likely shift optimal farming routes and squad compositions once the patch lands.
