Arc Raiders Launches Shared Watch Event to Boost Team Play

Embark Studios released update 1.15.0 for Arc Raiders on February 10, 2026, kicking off the Shared Watch event. This two-week push from February 10 to 24 calls on players to team up with friends or strangers in the game's Rust Belt area. The goal is to fight robot enemies called ARC units, earning points called merits only from damage to those machines, not from player battles.

Background

Arc Raiders is a free-to-play game where players drop into matches as raiders scavenging in a dangerous world overrun by ARC robots. Matches mix player-versus-player fights with battles against these machines, creating tense gameplay. The game launched last year and has built a steady player base on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

This Shared Watch event marks a shift. Normally, players compete for loot and often clash with each other. Now, the update spotlights cooperation. It comes as part of a series of expeditions planned through April. Each expedition offers permanent unlocks and cosmetics for those who join in. Shared Watch is the first, setting the stage for more.

The event ties into the game's lore. In the story, Speranza is a city that survives thanks to raiders watching out for one another amid the robot threat. Developers at Embark Studios timed this for February, a month that already had a returning map event called Cold Snap, which adds harsh weather and better loot drops.

Players have talked about wanting more ways to team up without the constant risk of betrayal. Past updates focused on new weapons, maps, and robot types like the ground-based Shredder and Matriarch. This one leans into group play against the machines.

Key Details

Event Mechanics

To join Shared Watch, players enter raids as usual but focus on ARC enemies. Merits come from damaging, assisting, or destroying these robots. No merits award for killing other players, pushing everyone toward machine hunts. Rewards unlock along a track as merits build up. These include useful items, Raider Tokens for shop buys, and a new cosmetic set themed around baseball called Slugger.

The event lasts 14 days, ending February 24. Players can squad with known friends or link up with random raiders in the match. Loadouts matter—pick gear strong against groups of ARC units. While PvP stays possible, it offers no event progress, so many will ignore rival players.

Update 1.15.0 also fixes bugs. It improves reconnection after disconnects and ensures trial rewards grant properly at round ends. Cold Snap returns alongside, with freezing conditions that slow movement but boost loot quality.

“You watch my back, I'll watch yours – that’s how Speranza keeps ticking.” — ARC Raiders official account

Upcoming Plans

After Shared Watch ends, sign-ups open February 25 for Expedition 2, starting March 1. This one aims for a group stash goal of 3 million. Veterans get catch-up tools, more stash space, and skill points. Buffs stack for repeat players but reset if skipped. New outfits like Patchwork with toggles and colors, plus a Scrappy set, reward return trips.

A bigger update called Shrouded Sky follows around February 24. It adds a new ARC threat, likely flying based on the name and past ground foes. Expect a new map condition, Raider Deck, player project, and strategy shifts for aerial fights.

What This Means

Shared Watch tests if players prefer teaming against machines over constant PvP. It could draw in those tired of betrayals, growing the player count. Success might lead to more PvE events, balancing the game's mix.

For Embark Studios, this fits their roadmap of regular content to keep Arc Raiders fresh. Expeditions build long-term engagement with lasting rewards. The no-PvP-merits rule changes raid flow—raiders might form loose alliances, sharing fire on big ARC groups while eyeing loot extracts.

New players get an easy entry point. Jumping into Shared Watch means quick merits and cosmetics without mastering PvP first. Veterans can farm efficiently, prepping for Shrouded Sky's challenges.

The event highlights ARC as the real foe, per the theme. In matches, spotting a Matriarch or Shredder horde becomes a call to group up, not snipe rivals. Bug fixes make raids smoother, cutting frustration from crashes.

Cold Snap pairing adds survival layers—cold slows everyone equally, forcing shelter or fast kills. Together, these fill February with goals, bridging to March's expedition.

Shrouded Sky looms large. Flying ARCs could demand anti-air tools or new tactics, reshaping metas. Community chats already buzz with build ideas. If Shared Watch boosts numbers, Embark gains momentum for bolder updates.

This push comes at a key time. Arc Raiders competes in a crowded shooter space. Events like this keep it relevant, pulling players back weekly. Developers watch metrics closely—merit earns, team sizes, completion rates—to shape future content.

Permanent unlocks across expeditions reward loyalty. A raider finishing all three by April gets stacked buffs, exclusive skins, and bragging rights. It builds a core group while welcoming newcomers each time.

In the end, Shared Watch reorients focus. Raiders who adapt thrive; holdouts sticking to solo PvP miss out. The Rust Belt feels alive with chatter of incoming machine waves and hasty alliances.