A significant datamine of Arc Raiders has uncovered a wealth of unreleased content that could reshape the game’s future. From an unreleased fourth map and new bosses to resurrected PvE features and advanced gameplay mechanics, the datamine offers a thrilling glimpse into what may lie ahead for Embark Studios’ extraction shooter.
Arc Raiders, initially announced as a cooperative PvE sci-fi shooter, pivoted to an extraction-based PvPvE format shortly before its release. While this shift surprised many fans, the recent leak suggests that the developers have not entirely abandoned their original vision. Here’s a breakdown of what was discovered and what it could mean for the game’s roadmap.
New Bosses: A Return to Tactical PvE Combat?
One of the most exciting discoveries in the datamine is the addition of multiple new bosses. Internally codenamed after various spices like Wasabi, Mustard, Fennel, Radish, Pepper, and Salt, these enemies are designed with unique multi-phase combat systems. For example, the boss labeled “Mustard” appears to include three distinct phases, each offering varied attack patterns and increasing difficulty. “Wasabi,” on the other hand, is associated with rapid charge mechanics, EMP blasts, and evasive behavior.
These bosses are not just stronger enemies but are built to deliver challenging tactical encounters, suggesting a shift or expansion back toward more structured PvE raids or missions. Tags like “MiniBoss” and “RaidBoss” further point to a system that differentiates enemy tiers, possibly linked to new co-op missions or open-world world events.
The Blue Gate: A Fourth Map in Development
Beyond the current in-game maps—Buried City, The Dam, and Spaceport—a new area codenamed “The Blue Gate” has been discovered. Although this map lacks specific Points of Interest (POIs) in the datamine, its existence indicates that Embark Studios may be preparing to expand the playable universe soon.
The Blue Gate could potentially serve as a battleground for upcoming PvE raids or seasonal events, especially if paired with the new boss encounters. Additional references in the datamine also point to other environment types such as “Mountain Compound,” which may feature snowy or alpine biomes, and multiple dev/test maps, including “Death Match,” “Combat Validation,” and a tutorial-focused “Onboarding” map.
PvE Game Modes: The Original Vision Resurfaces for Arc Raiders
Before its transition to an extraction-based title, Arc Raiders was marketed heavily as a co-op PvE experience. The datamine reveals that many elements from that original design still exist within the game’s files, including references to modes like “Outpost Defense,” “Harvester Hunt,” “Reclaim,” and “Siege.”
Notably, “Outpost Defense” even includes difficulty labels such as “Elite,” suggesting that players may soon face increasingly difficult waves of enemies in a tower-defense style format. This reappearance of PvE content may offer a more casual or cooperative alternative to the high-stakes extraction gameplay.
AI Companions and Autobots in Arc Raiders
Another key finding is the reference to “Autobots” – AI-controlled Raider units. These companions may serve multiple purposes: acting as teammates for solo players, facilitating training scenarios, or even appearing as temporary recruits in certain missions.
Such AI integration could be crucial in easing new players into Arc Raiders’ fast-paced gameplay while also expanding the game’s solo-friendly features. With tags like “ARCFriendifier” hinting at mechanics that allow the conversion or control of enemy ARC units, players might soon have more tools for strategic solo play or complex squad tactics.
Abilities, Loadouts, and Loot Mechanics
The datamined content reveals a significantly expanded ability system. Players might soon gain access to unique powers such as “LaserRing,” “Stomp,” “SummonVehicle,” and others. These abilities appear to be influenced by several internal stats like stamina, jump height, fall resistance, and damage multipliers, adding a new layer of RPG-like progression.
Weapon and item categories have also been detailed further. The loot system now includes backpacks, armor, weapons (ranged and melee), throwables, and support gear. Each item appears to be placed within specific lootable objects such as kitchen benches, lockers, cabinets, and even car trunks, offering a diverse scavenging experience.
The files also mention rare and possibly legendary equipment types, suggesting the future implementation of gear tiers and randomized loot stats, similar to traditional looter shooters.
Dynamic Weather and World Events
Arc Raiders is already known for its immersive world-building, and the datamine shows that Embark may be doubling down on environmental dynamics. Seventeen different weather effects are listed, including fog, sandstorms, fires, and acid rain. These could drastically affect visibility, traversal, and combat scenarios, further immersing players in the unpredictable world.
There is also mention of a “Kill Zone” mechanic—possibly a shrinking zone or damage-over-time region that forces player movement, akin to a battle royale. This could be tied to limited-time events or high-stakes PvPvE missions that emphasize mobility and tactical decision-making.
Vehicles and Traversal Mechanics
One of the standout potential additions is a jetbike known as “DardoRosso.” While it’s unclear whether this vehicle is purely cosmetic or offers performance advantages, the inclusion of a summonable vehicle implies larger maps and more complex traversal routes in the future.
A tag for a “FirstPersonCamera” suggests that a first-person mode could be under consideration, which would significantly shift gameplay dynamics, offering greater immersion and tactical visibility.
Emotes, Customization, and Social Features
In addition to core gameplay features, quality-of-life and social features are also being worked on. Thirteen emotes are listed in the datamine, including actions like “Laugh,” “Dance,” and “HeelClick,” which could enhance player expression and in-game communication.
Feature flags for Discord integration point toward deeper social tools, possibly enabling voice chats, party management, or even event scheduling directly through the platform. Tags also hint at increased party sizes and destructible environments, both of which could redefine how large-scale events unfold in-game.
A Glimpse at What’s Ahead for Arc Raiders
Although it’s important to remember that datamined content may not reflect final game features, the scope and depth of the information suggest that Embark Studios is building toward a much richer, more expansive version of Arc Raiders. These updates could be part of upcoming seasonal content, future expansions, or a broader return to the game’s original PvE roots.
With a fourth map, multiple raid bosses, intricate loot systems, and renewed emphasis on co-op and solo-friendly gameplay, Arc Raiders may soon transform into a hybrid experience that blends extraction tension with narrative-driven PvE depth.
Stay tuned to TheGamePost and other reliable sources for more updates, and prepare for what could be a major evolution in Arc Raiders’ gameplay ecosystem.
