We called it back in January. In our 2026 Escalation Roadmap coverage, the Shrouded Sky update was flagged as the most intriguing entry on the slate — storm-themed, with a new ARC threat and map updates. Now we know what it actually is.
Shrouded Sky
- New Map Condition
- New ARC Threat
- Player Project
- New Raider Deck
- Map Update
- Expedition Window
Hurricane Map Condition
The Hurricane brings four interconnected challenges: directional wind, shield-degrading debris, dramatically reduced visibility, and newly unearthed First Wave Caches. Unlike Cold Snap — which simply punished you for being outside — the Hurricane actively fights back and rewards players who work with it rather than against it.
New cosmetics arriving with the Shrouded Sky update — click to enlarge
Finally, a face worth wearing. Already changing my char.
Wind
Wind direction is the defining mechanic. A tailwind gives you a speed boost; running into the gale drains your stamina fast. More importantly, throwables — grenades, smoke, gas — all behave differently with drift. Expect a short adjustment period before you can reliably land grenades in storm conditions.
Wind-adjusted throwables are going to shake up engagements significantly. Players who adapt their grenade angles early will have a real edge — especially in the first few days when most Raiders are still lobbing straight.
Debris & Shields
Storm debris causes your shield to glitch and spark — click to enlarge
Out in the open, flying debris constantly chips your shield and causes it to visibly glitch and spark. This is the most consequential mechanic in the update: those sparks are a beacon — visible not just to rival Raiders, but to ARC as well. In a condition designed around limited visibility, your shield can become a flare.
This reminds us of Cold Snap's health degradation, but the stakes are higher. With the new ARC enemy being notably fast, getting spotted mid-rotation with a sparking shield could be fatal before you even react. We expect a lot of Raiders to go shieldless during movement and only equip it for active engagements — similar to how experienced players handled the cold.
Visibility
Low clouds cut sightlines across all exterior areas — click to enlarge
Low cloud cover dramatically reduces sightlines, making familiar landmarks harder to read and ARC patrols a close-range surprise. Audio becomes your primary sensor — listen through the wind for movement cues. The upside: without a sparking shield, you're nearly invisible to rivals, making this a strong condition for aggressive flankers.
New ARC Enemy
New ARC enemy: light shifts orange → red as it enters attack mode — watch the lateral movement speed
The Shrouded Sky update introduces a new ARC threat, and from what we can see it's a fast-moving ground unit. In the preview GIF, the enemy's light transitions from orange to red — indicating it's shifting into attack mode — while also sweeping rapidly side to side. It can cover lateral ground much faster than anything currently in the roster.
For the full picture, Embark's Shrouded Sky teaser on YouTube gives a better sense of the movement speed — it's quick. Combine that with a storm that degrades your shield and limits your visibility, and this new ARC sounds like a genuine threat. Getting caught with a sparking shield when this thing locks on seems like a bad time.
First Wave Caches
The Hurricane unearths First Wave Caches — buried relics from the original Raiders, now exposed by the storm. These are the high-value targets for the condition: valuable loot for anyone willing to fight through degraded shields, limited visibility, and rival Raiders all chasing the same prize.
We'll be mapping all First Wave Cache locations as soon as the update goes live on February 24th. Check our interactive maps — we'll have the spawn locations pinned as fast as we can get topside.
"Use the conditions to avoid conflict or to gain the upper hand. The true masters of the Hurricane will be those who work with it, not against it."
Good luck out there — get home safe. The ARC Raiders Team
Check the Events Calendar for the live Hurricane schedule from February 24th.
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