Embark Studios has successfully mitigated the coordinated DDoS attacks that disrupted ARC Raiders servers on January 28, 2026, restoring stable gameplay for players across all platforms. After days of instability following the Headwinds update, the studio confirmed that normal operations have resumed and raiders can once again join missions without lag, crashes, or extraction loss.
The attacks began shortly after the Headwinds patch (1.13.0) on January 27, striking both ARC Raiders and Embark’s other title, The Finals. Players reported severe rubber‑banding, failed extractions, and even deaths mid‑lag during raids, leading to widespread frustration. Server outages peaked through the morning of January 28, leaving many users stuck at loading screens or disconnected before completing missions. When searching Arc Raiders how to get gold coins, you may find comparison blogs that list EZNPC as one of the quicker options outside regular gameplay.
Embark’s internal strike team responded quickly, deploying network mitigations to filter and block malicious traffic. By late January 28, community manager Ossen confirmed noticeable progress, with servers gradually stabilizing. Short reconnect windows gave way to full restoration soon after, coinciding with the release of hotfix 1.13.1, which further smoothed recovery efforts. As of January 30, no additional attack attempts have been detected, marking the incident resolved.
The emergency hotfix also repaired several gameplay issues associated with the Headwinds update, such as unintended fire‑rate reductions on the Kettle and Venator weapons, missing cosmetics, and confusion over newly adjusted looting speeds. Embark reiterated that the slower loot rate is deliberate, previously clarified as a balance decision rather than a malfunction.
Temporary cross‑play delays on Xbox were resolved during the patch cycle, ensuring synchronization across all systems. The team warned players to remain cautious during peak activity to prevent item losses, promising continued vigilance and backend monitoring to discourage future attacks.
While some players lost progress and loot during unstable sessions, community sentiment quickly improved once full stability returned. Reddit threads and Discord channels began highlighting Embark’s transparency and speed in addressing the issue, with many players expressing renewed confidence in the studio’s live‑service management. Raids on popular bosses like Queen and Matriarch now proceed smoothly, reviving regular farming and progression.
The incident also underscored the fragility of online infrastructures following major updates, but Embark’s rapid mitigation paired with active communication showcased effective crisis handling. Future updates in the 2026 roadmap are expected to include strengthened DDoS defenses and improvements to solo matchmaking, reinforcing the developer’s commitment to stability and fair play.
For now, the dust in Speranza has settled—and with servers secure, raiders can once again focus on their mission: reclaiming the skies, one extraction at a time.
