The first major ARC Raiders update of 2026 has reignited long-standing concerns within the community, as players push back against how limited-time content is being scheduled across regions.
While Headwinds introduced new systems and kicked off Embark Studios’ promised monthly update cadence, one specific feature — Bird City — has quickly become a major point of frustration.
Headwinds Update Launched January 27
Headwinds, ARC Raiders’ first major content drop of the year, launched on January 27 and marked the beginning of a planned monthly update cycle running through April.
The update introduced several notable additions:
- A new 1v3 matchmaking option
- The Buried City map modifier
- Bird City as a timed map event
- A new store bundle
- Various bug fixes and quality-of-life changes
While the update was intended to set a strong tone for 2026, community discussion has largely shifted toward how — and when — content is actually accessible.
Bird City’s Fixed Schedule Draws Heavy Criticism
Bird City is currently available only during three fixed daily windows:
- 08:00–09:00
- 16:00–17:00
- 00:00–01:00
For many players, particularly those in GMT and nearby regions, these time slots overlap heavily with work hours, sleep schedules, or family commitments.
As a result, a significant portion of the player base is effectively locked out of experiencing the modifier at all.
Community Pushes for Dynamic Rotation
A Reddit thread criticizing the Bird City schedule rapidly gained traction, surpassing 1,000 upvotes and drawing hundreds of comments.
The dominant request is clear:
players want dynamic or rotating time windows.
Instead of fixed daily hours, the community is asking Embark to shift Bird City’s availability by several hours each day, ensuring that all regions occasionally receive prime-time access.
This feedback is not new. Since launch, players have repeatedly asked for fairer scheduling systems for limited-time content, especially in a globally played extraction shooter.
Ongoing Friction Beyond Scheduling
The Bird City controversy arrives alongside several other unresolved pain points from the Headwinds update.
1v3 Matchmaking Remains Unpopular
The newly added 1v3 option has been widely criticized, with many players viewing it as unnecessary and poorly aligned with the game’s balance and pacing.
Weapon Changes Required Emergency Hotfix
Shortly after launch, players noticed reduced fire rates on weapons such as the Kettle and Venator. Embark confirmed the changes were unintentional and reverted them via hotfix the following day.
Loot Reveal Speed Adjustments Confirmed
Embark also addressed complaints about slower loot reveal animations introduced in update 1.13.0, stating that the faster speeds seen previously were incorrect and not intended behavior.
A Pattern of Player-Impact Decisions
Taken together, the Bird City scheduling issue highlights a recurring tension between Embark’s design decisions and how they affect everyday players.
While the studio continues to communicate and react quickly with hotfixes, broader systems — such as matchmaking structure and time-locked content — remain ongoing friction points.
As ARC Raiders moves deeper into its 2026 update roadmap, many players are now watching closely to see whether Embark adjusts not just what content is added, but how accessible that content truly is.
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