ARC Raiders “Headwinds” update adds Solo vs. Squads matchmaking and open parties on January 27

ARC Raiders is getting its “Headwinds” update on January 27 across all platforms, with a big focus on how you queue up and group with other players. The patch adds a new Solo vs. Squads matchmaking option for higher-level Raiders, plus new party tools meant to make it easier to keep a squad together between runs.

The headline change is Solo vs. Squads for players level 40 and up. If you want a tougher solo challenge, you can opt into squad queues, and the game will award bonus XP at the end of the match regardless of how the run turns out.

On the social side, Headwinds introduces Open Parties and expanded squad invites. You can set a party to “open” so friends can jump in between matches, and squadmates can invite other players directly. It sounds aimed at cutting down on the downtime that happens when someone drops or schedules do not line up.

The update also adds a new map condition for Buried City called Bird City. Flocks of birds will gather on rooftops and chimneys, sometimes dropping items and pulling players into more vertical fights. Those rooftop and chimney stashes can include valuable materials and rare trinkets, but the tradeoff is more player traffic in the same spaces.

Beyond matchmaking and the map modifier, Headwinds includes new quests and a new Player Project: the ARC Trophy Display. It’s a long-term progression track tied to hunting tougher ARCs and turning in parts, with rewards that include items, cosmetics, Raider tokens, and rare blueprints.

Headwinds is also the first update in the game’s Q1 roadmap, with “Shrouded Sky” planned for February and additional updates listed for March (“Flashpoint”) and April (“Riven Tides”).