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Embark Studios has offered a breakdown of the Vaporizer Arc unit, the Close Scrutiny map condition, and everything else coming to Arc Raiders with the Flashpoint update.
Information on the new update arrived via blog post on the studio’s official website today. It’s a detailed sneak peek at all of the content coming topside ahead of its launch tomorrow, March 31, for players across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S.
Where the February Shrouded Sky drop brought the flying menace known as the Firefly and the explosive rolling threat known as the Comet, Flashpoint adds just one new Arc. The Vaporizer is yet another drone-like enemy, but instead of spewing fire, this being can be seen using a laser, and, unfortunately for Raiders scavenging the Rust Belt, it likes to travel in groups.
Whether you’re presently surprised or disappointed to see Embark adding only one new Arc with this month’s update, the studio still wants to keep players who like to loot indoors on their toes, too. The Shredder, the shotgun-burst enemy seen roaming the halls of Stella Montis since late last year, can be found in new areas starting tomorrow. Expect to see the familiar threat, which was recently crowned the deadliest Arc in Arc Raiders, show up in Blue Gate, Buried City, Spaceport, and (under certain circumstances) Dam Battlegrounds.
Now that the Hurricanes of Shrouded Sky are beginning to subside, Flashpoint is introducing the new Close Scrutiny Arc Operation map condition. Embark’s first tease for the newest addition to its rotating selection of map events offers high-risk, high-reward scenarios where players can fight for loot dropped by the Arc Assessor. This new unit is heavily guarded and comes with rare components that you and other Raiders are going to want to get your hands on.
Arc Raiders players who have taken trips topside since its October 31, 2025, launch will also be happy to see two more weapons included with Flashpoint: The Dolabra Energy Shotgun and Canto Sub-machine gun. There’s also the new Surge Coil deployable device, which offers protection by periodically electrifying the surrounding area. The High-Gain Antenna Player Project will also give players another way to earn rewards.
As with many other Arc Raiders updates, Flashpoint tweaks the experience with new quests, gameplay adjustments, and new store bundles, but two of the more notable changes involve Scrappy and crafting. As teased earlier this year, the March update alters Scrappy by allowing players to feed him specific items for more targeted resource gathering. Embark says the crafting system, meanwhile, has been “streamlined,” which will hopefully cut down on those long waits between Raids as you and your teammates build new loadouts.
Finally, there’s the new Wasp Hunter cosmetic set. Available for $20, the bundle comes with The Wasp Hunter outfit (and four color variants), an Oxygen Tank backpack, a helmet for Scrappy, a new Raider Tool, and 2400 Raider Tokens. Three more packs – the Brigade Set, Vanguard Set, and Nascosto Set – will launch at unspecified points throughout April.
Flashpoint comes to Arc Raiders tomorrow and is the third in a series of four larger expansions teased in a roadmap earlier this year. With Headwinds arriving in January and Shrouded Sky in February, all that’s left is Riven Tides in April. Propped up to potentially be Embark’s biggest yet, the update is said to come with a new map, a new large Arc threat, another map condition, and an expedition window.
While we wait to go hands-on with Flashpoint, you can read about how another recent patch finally took aim at the Il Toro. You can also check out what Embark CEO Patrick Söderlund had to say about AI voice lines, as well as Bungie and Sony’s Marathon.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
