Embark Studios released Patch 1.6.0 for Arc Raiders on December 11, 2025, fixing several exploit issues while announcing the end of the game's weekly patch cycle. The studio has maintained Thursday updates every week since the extraction shooter's November launch, but that streak ends now.
The patch targets four specific map exploits and collision problems. More significantly, Embark confirmed all future updates will move to Tuesdays and arrive less frequently than the previous weekly schedule.
Four Map Exploits Fixed in Latest Update
Patch 1.6.0 removes the Stella Montis zipline that let players travel out of bounds. This exploit gave players access to areas outside the playable zone, potentially creating unfair advantages. The zipline removal follows other exploit fixes on the same map.
The update also corrects a collision issue in Blue Gate where players could vault through and fall through a wall. This let them reach areas they shouldn't be able to access.
Material issues affecting multiple objects have been fixed as well. Certain environmental pieces weren't properly blocking bullet fire or ARC vision, meaning objects that should provide cover or block line of sight were letting bullets pass through. These objects now function correctly.
Finally, Embark patched a gap in the Spaceport Launch Tower's collision geometry. This gap allowed players to be shot through what should've been a solid wall, creating an unintended vulnerability for anyone taking cover there.
The patch notes confirm these four fixes represent the entire update. Version 1.6.0 focuses solely on closing exploit opportunities rather than adding new content or balance changes.
Thursday Patches Discontinued After Consistent Weekly Releases
Embark's bigger announcement concerns Arc Raiders' future update schedule. The studio has released patches every Thursday since November without missing a week, but this pattern won't continue.
Community lead Ossen addressed the change directly in the patch notes and on Discord. The team has been patching weekly to catch critical issues while operating at full capacity, but that frequency is ending.
"Our goal is to continue to investigate and fix critical issues as soon as we can, but it will not be on a weekly cadence," Ossen stated in a Steam Blog post.
The shift represents Embark's move from reactive, frequent updates to a more measured approach. The studio wants to focus on larger systemic issues and quality improvements instead of rushing smaller fixes to meet rigid weekly deadlines.
Tuesday Releases Replace Weekly Thursday Schedule
All Arc Raiders updates now arrive on Tuesdays instead of Thursdays. This affects both gameplay patches and in-game store rotations, which will occur exclusively on Tuesdays going forward.
Patches will release "as needed" when developers compile sufficient fixes and improvements. This gives the team more flexibility to test changes thoroughly before deployment and removes the pressure of arbitrary weekly deadlines.
Console certification processes require more time than PC updates. By spacing out releases, Embark can coordinate simultaneous updates across all platforms on the same Tuesday schedule. This prevents PC players from getting fixes before console players due to different certification timelines.
Community reactions on Reddit and Discord have been mixed. Some players appreciate giving developers time for quality assurance and holiday breaks. Others worry about exploits or critical bugs persisting longer between patches.
Embark has reserved the right to deploy emergency patches outside the Tuesday window if severe exploits or game-breaking issues emerge. These critical situations won't wait for the next scheduled update.
Cold Snap Launches December 16 Despite Schedule Change
The Cold Snap update still arrives on its planned December 16, 2025 release date. This major content drop will be Arc Raiders' last significant addition for 2025 and launches on a Tuesday under the new schedule.
Cold Snap includes the Snowfall Map Condition, which introduces weather-based environmental changes. The update also adds fresh quests, limited-time winter events, and a new Raider Deck for player customization.
Ossen noted that Cold Snap "will bring many different fixes" along with "new goodies" not yet revealed to the community. The community lead said Cold Snap won't match the scope of the previous Stella Montis update but will exceed what the initial roadmap showed.
The team has emphasized that Cold Snap represents the kind of meaningful, well-tested content they can deliver under the new philosophy. Larger, more substantial updates replace frequent smaller patches.
Holiday Break Begins After Cold Snap Release
Players should expect minimal update activity through late December and early January 2026. The development team will take what Ossen called a "much needed break" during the winter holiday period after maintaining the intensive weekly schedule since November.
The studio will still monitor the game for critical issues during the holiday break. If severe problems impact gameplay or player experience significantly, the team will address them despite being on break. Ossen confirmed the team returns in January "ready to bring more updates."
This aligns with standard live service game practices. Most titles see reduced update activity during major holidays while maintaining skeleton crews for emergencies. The shift to less frequent updates has been described as "completely normal for a live service game that has largely worked out all the issues that came with launch."
What Players Can Expect Under New Schedule
The move from weekly Thursday patches to less frequent Tuesday updates marks a maturation point for Arc Raiders. The game launched with an aggressive schedule to quickly address launch issues and maintain engagement during the critical early weeks. Now that major launch problems are resolved, the team is moving to a more sustainable long-term model.
Minor bugs or exploits may stick around slightly longer before fixes arrive compared to the previous weekly rhythm. Embark argues this tradeoff is worthwhile because it allows more thorough patch testing before deployment.
Weekly cycles can introduce new bugs or incomplete fixes in the rush to meet deadlines. Longer development windows enable better quality assurance.
Consolidating patches and store rotations onto a single Tuesday schedule also provides more predictability. The community can now expect all game changes on Tuesdays instead of tracking different update types on different days.
Players should adjust expectations from "something new every Thursday" to "substantial updates on Tuesdays when ready." The philosophy emphasizes quality over quantity, delivering more polished updates even if they arrive less frequently.
The Patch 1.6.0 notes summarize the new approach: "Going forward, updates and store rotations will occur on a Tuesday schedule, with the large Cold Snap update coming Tuesday, December 16."
The schedule change's success depends on whether Embark maintains responsive communication with the community and delivers on the promise of higher-quality updates under the new cadence. Cold Snap will be the first real test of this philosophy.
