Flashpoint Update Guide (March 31, 2026)

Everything coming in the Flashpoint update: Shredder enemy, lightning storms, Player Project system, Scrappy companion.

Category: Strategy · Updated 2026-08-31

The Flashpoint update drops March 31, 2026 and it is the biggest content drop since launch. Here is everything confirmed and what you should do to prepare.

New Map Condition: Lightning Storms

Lightning storms are a new environmental hazard that can strike any Topside map. When a storm rolls in, the sky darkens, visibility drops, and lightning bolts strike random outdoor locations. Getting hit deals massive damage and temporarily disables your electronics including your HUD. The storms are dynamic and unpredictable, adding a new layer of risk to outdoor traversal. Staying indoors or under cover is the safest play during a storm. The community expects this to shake up the current extraction meta since open air extraction points become significantly more dangerous.

New Enemy: The Shredder

The Shredder is an aggressive new ARC machine type that spawns exclusively on Stella Montis. Early footage shows a fast moving quadruped with spinning blade appendages designed for close range combat. The Shredder closes distance rapidly and deals sustained melee damage, making it a direct counter to the popular kiting strategies players use against current ARC machines. Expect to need crowd control gadgets like Gas Grenades and Smoke Grenades to handle Shredder encounters.

Player Project System

Player Projects are a new community driven goal system. The entire server contributes toward shared objectives like "Deliver 10,000 ARC Alloy" or "Eliminate 5,000 Bastions." When the community hits the target, everyone who contributed receives exclusive rewards including cosmetics, materials, and unique gear blueprints. This system encourages cooperation between Raiders and gives PvE focused players a new progression path outside of quests.

Scrappy Companion Update

Scrappy, the robotic companion introduced last month, is getting new abilities in the Flashpoint update. Confirmed additions include a loot scanner that highlights nearby items through walls, an emergency shield that absorbs one hit, and improved pathfinding so Scrappy stops getting stuck on terrain. These upgrades make Scrappy significantly more useful for solo players.

What to Do Before March 31

Stock up on crafting materials now. New content always means new recipes, and having a full stash of ARC Alloy, Metal Parts, and Circuitry gives you a head start. Save your Coins for whatever new vendor items arrive with the patch. Complete your current active quests before the update because seasonal quest progress may reset.

Looking Ahead: Riven Tides

Embark Studios has teased Riven Tides, a brand new map arriving in April 2026. Early concept art shows a coastal environment with flooded ruins and tidal mechanics. This will be the first water based map in Arc Raiders and could introduce entirely new traversal challenges. Stay tuned to arcraidersai.com for full coverage when more details drop.