May 2026 has been a landmark month for ARC Raiders. Developer Embark Studios has delivered a dense patch, revealed a complete overhaul of its content strategy, and launched a new season of competitive Trials.
📦 Patch 1.29.0 – New Trader, New Weapons, and Denuvo Anti-Cheat
Ermal: The Nomadic Envoy
Players who have reached Level 25 can now access Ermal, a new nomadic trader located in Speranza. He is designed specifically for endgame players, offering a meaningful way to offload high-value ARC materials and rare weapons. Trading with Ermal unlocks several major rewards:
- Expanded Stash Space (resets post-Expedition)
- Expedition Vault: Allows you to safely store up to five valuable items during an Expedition and retrieve them afterward – effectively a "safe pocket" for your most prized gear.
- Weekly Rotating Offers: Cosmetics, blueprints, Raider Tokens, and progression-focused items.
Some of the high-value items Ermal accepts include Queen Reactors, Matriarch Reactors, Turbine Compressors, and Rocketeer Drivers. For the first week, only a single Stash expansion and the Expedition Vault slots were available to gather feedback on pricing and balance.
The Rascal Grenade Launcher
The update adds a new anti-ARC weapon: The Rascal grenade launcher. Described as "lightweight, compact, and easy to carry," it serves as a more portable alternative to the heavier Hullcracker. The Rascal offers strong explosive firepower but comes with slower reload times and less predictable accuracy, making it a sidearm for players who want to deal with armored ARC threats without being weighed down.
Weapon Durability & Balance Adjustments
Following player criticism that weapons were degrading too quickly, Embark rolled back some of the durability penalties. Tier I weapons saw significant increases in shots to break:
- Ferro – from 129 → 151 shots (+18%)
- Anvil – from 150 → 188 shots (+25%)
- Osprey – from 111 → 148 shots (+33%)
- Renegade – from 175 → 269 shots (+54%)
Other balance adjustments include:
- ARC vision rework: enemies now detect players more realistically when hiding in bushes or smoke.
- Sound detection: improved outdoor detection, reduced indoor detection.
- Queen & Matriarch: reduced frustrating knockback situations.
- Photoelectric Cloak: power cost reduced from 10/s to 5/s.
- Firefly: burn effect now matches visuals more closely; grazing the flame is less punishing.
- Rocketeer: multiple missiles now spread out over a larger area to prevent unfair stacked hits.
Denuvo Anti-Cheat – No DRM, Limited Rollout
One of the most significant changes is the introduction of Denuvo Anti-Cheat on a limited player pool starting May 19. Embark was quick to clarify that this is solely anti-cheat and does not include Denuvo's controversial DRM technology. The studio stated: "We will not be using Denuvo's Digital Rights Management (DRM) service, and are working to ensure minimal impact on performance." The anti-cheat system will work alongside the existing Anybrain detection.
End-of-Round & Social Improvements
- Full squad visibility – all squad members, including those who failed to extract, are now shown at the end of a round.
- Direct player actions – nameplates now support reporting, muting, and blocking directly from the interface.
- Improved squad leaving – players can now leave squads immediately during the tunnel sequence instead of waiting for the round to fully end.
📅 A New Update Strategy – Twice-Yearly Major Expansions
In a blog post on May 13, Embark announced a fundamental shift in its content delivery. ARC Raiders will move from monthly major updates to two massive expansions per year, with a dedicated live service team continuing to handle balance patches, bug fixes, and store updates in between.
“Over time, we’ve found that the pressure of a monthly cycle limits how impactful these updates can be. You feel it, and we feel it too. Running at that pace isn't sustainable, or compatible with the bigger ambitions we have for this game.” – Alexander Grøndal, Executive Producer.
The decision comes as the game’s daily peak on Steam has dropped from over 480,000 at launch to around 90,000–100,000, a decline of over 80%. Review sentiment also dipped to 69% in April. However, the hope is that less frequent but much larger updates will reignite long-term interest.
❄️ Frozen Trail – October 2026
The first major update under the new model is Frozen Trail, scheduled for October 2026. Embark describes it as the largest update since launch. Key features include:
- The largest map in the game – a new layered landscape in the Rust Belt.
- A new ambitious ARC operation with fresh enemy designs and unique behaviors.
- New progression systems – new goals for players who have maxed out their Raider Den and hit the Skill Point ceiling.
- Lore expansion – exploring the origin of ARC.
- Improved Skill Tree.
- New weapons, items, instruments, and cosmetics.
“Right now, Raiders are facing an escalating ARC threat, and the society in Speranza may feel helpless against it. But Raiders aren't built to stay on the back foot: the goal has always been bigger than survival – it's about one day reclaiming the surface. Frozen Trail will start to progress this goal.”
🏆 Trials Season 4 – New Challenges & Rewards
The competitive Trials mode has entered Season 4, running from May 18 to May 24. The season introduces enhanced mechanical enemies with unique tactics, including:
- Rocketeers – armed with ballistic weapons.
- Leapers – fast-moving, agile opponents.
- Pops – high threat in direct confrontation.
Players are tasked with eliminating these targets to earn rewards. The season also features a revamped progression system. Key rewards include:
- Blindspot outfit – unlocked at Tryhard I rank.
- Alternate color variants – for Daredevil and Cantina Legend ranks.
Rewards are granted for activity throughout the week, making this an ideal time to jump back into the competitive side of ARC Raiders.
📊 Summary Table – May 2026 Key Updates
| Category | Details |
| Patch 1.29.0 | Live May 19 – new trader, new grenade launcher, balance changes, Denuvo Anti-Cheat |
| New Trader (Ermal) | Level 25+; trades high-value ARC items for stash upgrades, Expedition Vault, cosmetics, etc. |
| New Weapon (Rascal) | Lightweight anti-ARC grenade launcher; slower reload, less predictable aim |
| Denuvo Anti-Cheat | Limited rollout May 19; no DRM; works alongside Anybrain |
| Update Strategy | Moving from monthly → twice-yearly major expansions |
| Frozen Trail | October 2026 – largest update since launch; new map, ARC operation, progression systems, skill tree |
| Trials Season 4 | May 18–24; enhanced enemies (Rocketeers, Leapers, Pops); Blindspot outfit rewards |
💬 BuyCarry Team’s Take
May has been a pivotal month for ARC Raiders, and the changes carry significant implications for the game’s long-term health – and for our boosting services.
What we like:
- Ermal and the Expedition Vault directly address two of the most persistent endgame complaints: overflowing stashes and the fear of losing valuable gear. This will encourage more players to engage in high-risk content.
- The Denuvo Anti-Cheat integration (without DRM) is a positive step. Cheating has been a recurring problem, and a fairer game will retain more players.
- The shift to twice-yearly major updates is a mature decision. Monthly deadlines clearly led to thin content, and reinvesting that time into genuinely transformative expansions like Frozen Trail is the right long‑term play.
- Trials Season 4 with its enhanced enemies and cosmetic rewards gives competitive players a fresh goal.
What we’re cautious about:
- The player base has dropped significantly, and less frequent updates risk further erosion if the wait for Frozen Trail feels too long.
- The reaction to Denuvo (even without DRM) has been mixed among PC players. We’ll be monitoring performance reports closely.
- The limited first-week availability of the Expedition Vault suggests Embark is still tuning the economy – we may see changes to prices and availability in the coming weeks.
For our clients:
- Need help unlocking Ermal or farming high-value ARC drops? We offer endgame carry services.
- Looking to rank up in Trials Season 4? Our boosters can help you achieve the Blindspot outfit and its variants.
- Preparing for Frozen Trail in October? We will have day‑one guides, farming routes, and progression services ready.
Final verdict: May 2026 has set ARC Raiders on a new course. The immediate quality-of-life improvements are welcome, but the true test will be whether Frozen Trail can deliver the “largest update since launch” and reverse the player decline. For now, the game is in a healthier state than it was a month ago.
🎮 Our ARC Raiders Services
- 🔧 Endgame Carry & Ermal Unlock – Farm high-value ARC items, unlock Expedition Vault, and expand your stash.
- 🏆 Trials Season 4 Rank Boost – Unlock Blindspot outfit, Daredevil, and Cantina Legend variants.
- ❄️ Frozen Trail Preparation Package – Max out Raider Den, skill points, and gear before October’s expansion.
❓ FAQ – ARC Raiders May 2026
Q1: Who is Ermal and what does he offer?
A: Ermal is a new nomadic trader available at level 25. He accepts high-value ARC materials in exchange for expanded stash space, an Expedition Vault (store up to 5 items per run), weekly rotating cosmetics, blueprints, and Raider Tokens.
Q2: What is the Rascal grenade launcher?
A: A lightweight, compact anti-ARC grenade launcher. It offers strong damage against armored enemies but has slower reload and less predictable accuracy compared to heavier launchers.
Q3: Is Denuvo Anti-Cheat a DRM system?
A: No. Embark has confirmed they are using only the anti-cheat component, not the controversial DRM. They stated they are “working to ensure minimal impact on performance.”
Q4: Why is ARC Raiders moving to twice-yearly major updates?
A: Embark found that monthly deadlines limited the impact of updates. Switching to two larger expansions per year allows them to create more meaningful, transformative content, starting with Frozen Trail in October.
Q5: What is Frozen Trail?
A: The first major expansion under the new schedule, launching October 2026. It will feature the largest map in the game, a new ARC operation with unique enemies, new progression systems, expanded lore, an improved skill tree, and new items.
Q6: How long does Trials Season 4 last?
A: Trials Season 4 runs from May 18 to May 24, featuring enhanced enemies (Rocketeers, Leapers, Pops) and the Blindspot outfit as a reward.
Q7: Can BuyCarry help with ARC Raiders content?
A: Yes – including endgame farming for Ermal’s trades, Trials Season 4 rank boosting, Expedition carries, and preparation for the Frozen Trail update. Contact us for details.
Sources: Embark Studios official blog, Patch 1.29.0 notes, Windows Report, Dot Esports, Inven Global, Escapist Magazine, GameGPU, and multiple regional gaming outlets – May 2026.