ARC Raiders' 'North Line' Update Is Here, and We Have to Grind to Unlock the New Map

The ARC Raiders 2025 roadmap is kicking off, and our first big content drop is a community-wide chore.

Embark just dropped the details for the "North Line" update, the first major stop on their new roadmap. And it turns out, we don't just get the new map. We have to build the damn tunnels to it ourselves.

It's a community event, and it all starts tomorrow, November 13. Get your Scavenger builds ready, because we're all about to go on a massive junk run.

Breaking New Ground (And My Stash)

The event is called "Breaking New Ground". The goal is to "restore the tunnels" to reach the fifth map, Stella Montis.

To do this, we all have to donate Basic Materials. We're talking Metal Parts, Fabric, Chemicals, Rubber Parts, and Plastic Parts.

Any player who has survived at least five raids can participate. Donating this junk will earn you "Merits," a new event currency that's going to be used for a new progression track. There's a cap on how many Merits you can earn, but after that, keep donating... because our combined contributions are what actually unlocks the map for everyone.

The Payoff: Stella Montis and a New Nightmare

The reward for all our hard work is Stella Montis, the new map. It's an abandoned facility in the northern mountains, supposedly "well-preserved" and "sterile". I'm looking forward to a break from all the mud.

Unlocking this map also triggers "Phase II: Staking Our Claim," which is a new, limited-time (until December) progression track with its own challenges and rewards.

But here's the real reason I'm grinding. This update adds two new ARC enemies. The first is the Shredder, a close-quarters bot that will first appear on Stella Montis.

The second... is the Matriarch. Embark's official description says it "makes the Queen look friendly". Jesus Christ. I'm already terrified. It's tied to a "specific map condition," so it sounds like a new world boss.

Oh, and there's a new legendary weapon, three new mines, and two new grenades to find.

What's Next: Cold Snap

Embark is making it clear this is just the start. The next update, "Cold Snap," is already scheduled for December.

That's when we'll get the "Flickering Flames" event, a new "snowfall" map condition, and the awaited "Expedition Project" reset.

For now, though, we have a job to do. Go farm some plastic. I want to fight that Matriarch.

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