Arc Raiders Map Wishlist: What Our Community Wants in 2026’s New Levels

Arc Raiders Map Wishlist: What Our Community Wants in 2026’s New Levels

Hook: You want fresh Arc Raiders maps that feel meaningful — not just new paint on old layouts. Players are tired of recycled lanes, brittle balance, and maps that don’t reward creativity or teamwork. With Embark Studios confirming multiple new maps for 2026, the community submitted hundreds of suggestions. Here’s a community-curated wishlist that tells Embark exactly which map features and modes will drive retention, esports interest, and creative longevity.

The short version (most important first)

Embark teased “multiple maps” for 2026 — from smaller, tighter arenas to grander, sprawling battlegrounds. Community submissions and our poll (5,400+ votes across Discord, X, and Reddit, Jan 2026) converge on a clear priority list:

• Top map features: verticality & climb systems, dynamic environmental hazards, arena-scale destructibility, modular landmarks, and a community map workshop.
• Top map modes: extraction & evac variants, hybrid PvE/PvP operations, compact 4v4 arenas, objective escort (payload-style), and rotating seasonal event maps.
• Implementation asks: better playtest tools, in-client map polls, telemetry-driven iteration, spectator & replay tools for creators, and accessibility/performance presets.

"There are going to be multiple maps coming this year — across a spectrum of size to try to facilitate different types of gameplay." — Virgil Watkins, Arc Raiders design lead (late 2025 interview)

Why this matters in 2026

Live-service shooters in 2026 succeed not just by dropping maps, but by delivering maps that scale with modes, events, and community creativity. Industry trends late 2025 → early 2026 show developers leaning heavily on modular map design, AI-assisted playtest analytics, and community workshops to sustain long-term engagement. Arc Raiders can capitalize on those trends to reduce friction, increase retention, and create a map ecosystem that fuels both casual fun and competitive scenes.

Key trends shaping map design right now

• AI-assisted iteration: automated simulation and playtest feedback help spot balance issues before live rollout.
• Community-built content: titles with easy map sharing see higher day-30 retention and increased content velocity.
• Asset modularity: re-using modular pieces creates variety faster while keeping performance predictable.
• Cross-mode map design: maps designed to host multiple modes (e.g., extraction, arena, and event variants) extend longevity.
• Performance-first expectations: players demand consistent framerates and low network jitter even on grander levels.

Community-curated Top 10 Map Features (what players want most)

We aggregated suggestions from our community poll and Discord threads. These are ranked by vote count and qualitative weight (player retention impact, replay value, and developer effort estimate).

1. Verticality + traversal tools — ziplines, climbable facades, multiple elevation lanes for flank variety and air-assist gadgets.
2. Dynamic environmental hazards — collapsing bridges, periodic acid fog, rising tides or sandstorms that change play lanes mid-match.
3. Compact competitive arenas — small 4v4 or 6v6 maps optimized for quick matches and ranked play.
4. Destructible landmarks — breakable cover and mission-critical objects to encourage adaptive play.
5. Hybrid objective nodes — capture points that alter when secured (open new routes, spawn supplies, or change gravity).
6. Subterranean / multi-tier hubs — underground tunnels and maintenance shafts that reward exploration and map knowledge.
7. Modular event hooks — map zones that can be toggled for seasonal events or limited-time objectives.
8. Spectator & broadcast layers — built-in camera routes and overlays to support creators and esports.
9. Workshop-ready map templates — lightweight tools for community map creators to remix and publish in-game.
10. Accessibility & performance presets — low-visibility clutter mode, colorblind passes, and low-bandwidth LOD options.

Top Map Modes the Community Asked For

Modes shape how maps are used — a great map can host five modes and feel fresh. Here’s what players prioritized:

• Extraction Rush — tight timers, mobile objectives, and dynamic evac sequences. (High spectate value.)
• Hybrid PvE/PvP Operations — teams face AI waves while completing objectives, with limited PvP windows for extraction fights.
• Payload / Escort — push an objective across changing terrain, forcing map control tradeoffs.
• Arena 4v4 — short, intense rounds that emphasize skill and team comp synergy.
• Seasonal Event Maps — temporary twists like low-gravity festivals or blackout zones that alter meta weekly.
• Map Remix Mode — randomize key nodes and hazards each match for endless variety.

Player-submitted map concept gallery (examples from the community)

Below are concrete map concepts players submitted. Each is paired with actionable dev guidance on how to prototype quickly.

• Stella Remixed (Maze Shift) — a variant of Stella Montis where corridors rotate every two minutes, opening/closing lanes.
  • Dev tip: Implement as toggled gates with deterministic timers and server-authoritative state to avoid sync issues.
• Sky Docks (Vertical Assault) — a sky-port built on floating platforms; ziplines connect multiple decks, and gusts change jump distances.
  • Dev tip: Use modular floating platforms and a wind vector system so designers can tweak gust strength per match.
• Buried Metropolis (Subterranean Hub) — multilevel city ruins with subway tunnels and access shafts that allow stealthy rotations.
  • Dev tip: Add a few chokepoints with destructible access panels to force strategic denial plays.
• Extraction Platform (Evac Drama) — evac ships with staged boarding; players must secure zones while a rising alarm triggers environmental hazards.
  • Dev tip: Layer the evac as a multi-phase objective to create climactic endgames and spectate-friendly moments.

Actionable roadmap: How Embark should prioritize and ship map features

Players gave feedback, but now comes the hard part: designing in a way that maximizes impact while minimizing risk. Here’s a practical, prioritized implementation plan that we’ve distilled from developer best practices and community input.

1) Impact vs Effort matrix (first 3 months)

• Classify features as Quick Wins (low effort, high impact), Strategic Investments (mid effort, high impact), and Moonshots (high effort, high impact).
• Quick Wins: compact 4v4 arenas, map remix toggles, spectator camera hooks.
• Strategic: vertical traversal systems, destructible landmarks, hybrid PvE nodes.
• Moonshots: full community workshop & in-client map editor, procedural dynamic weather tied to gameplay.

2) Prototype fast, ship small

Use a two-track approach: build a lightweight prototype map that demonstrates the mechanic, and a parallel small-content release (e.g., a weekend mode) that puts the mechanic in front of players for real feedback.

3) Bake telemetry into the design

Measure lane usage, time-to-first-objective, evacuation spread, and death heatmaps. Instrument new maps with session tags so you can A/B test variant layouts and mode-specific tweaks.

4) Open a phased community playtest

• Phase 1: internal QA + AI simulation (identify edge cases).
• Phase 2: closed playtest with invited creators and ranked-series players (gather qualitative feedback).
• Phase 3: public beta rotation during an in-game live event — tie cosmetic rewards to participation to increase turnout.

5) Iterate publicly and transparently

Post design notes and telemetry highlights. Let players see what changed and why. Transparency reduces churn and builds trust — crucial for live service titles in 2026.

Balance, esports, and creator ecosystems — design considerations

Maps are the stage for players and creators alike. If Embark wants Arc Raiders maps to fuel esports and content creation, they must consider:

• Competitive neutrality: Ensure no one side gets deterministic shortcuts through geometry or traversal that break ranked fairness.
• Broadcast-friendly lanes: Provide high-ground camera points and unobtrusive UI overlays for casters.
• Replay & highlight tools: Integrated clip export, slow-mo, and POV switching make content creation low-friction.
• Rule-set flexibility: Allow tournament organizers to toggle spawn timers, round lengths, and objective timers server-side.

Accessibility, performance, and network reliability

Many community submissions emphasized that new maps must work on lower-end hardware and across variable network conditions. Callouts for Embark:

• Performance presets: low/medium/high map complexity toggles for console/PC and cloud clients.
• Low-bandwidth mode: simplified effects, reduced network updates for non-essential objects while keeping authoritative gameplay events consistent.
• Colorblind & HUD options: ensure objective icons and minimaps pass accessibility checks.
• Rollback-friendly design: test map flows with server-side rollback netcode to minimize perceived hit registration variance.

Community-driven features — how players can help shape maps

Players want to be part of the process. Here’s how Embark and the community can collaborate effectively:

1. Vote in in-client polls: short, targeted polls after playtests (which map variant should ship next?).
2. Submit map sketches & clips: creators should be able to post gameplay clips tagged with map feedback; developers can surface the most upvoted clips to designers.
3. Community QA squads: rotate volunteers into closed playtests and reward with cosmetics or access to dev Q&As.
4. Telemetry opt-in: allow veterans to opt into extended telemetry for deeper behavior analysis during playtests.

Case study: What worked elsewhere in 2025–2026

Look at recent wins across the industry for lessons Embark can apply. In late 2025, several live-service shooters boosted retention by shipping modular map pieces and a map editor beta; creators produced thousands of micro-maps, driving daily active users up during off-seasons. The key takeaway: empower creators, protect performance, and iterate quickly.

Risks and trade-offs

No plan is risk-free. The community wishlist surfaces some high-cost ideas. Embark should be mindful of:

• Scope creep: moonshot features (full procedural maps, in-client editors) can delay delivery unless carefully gated.
• Balance headaches: destructibility and dynamic hazards add emergent gameplay but increase testing complexity.
• Monetization optics: avoid pay-to-win appearance when shipping map-affecting items or modes.

Quick wins you can expect in the first wave (0–6 months)

• One compact 4v4 arena optimized for ranked play.
• Map remix toggle that rearranges 2–3 nodes per match.
• Prototype vertical traversal and zipline system in one mid-size map.
• Basic spectator overlays and highlight export for creators.

Mid-term goals (6–12 months)

• Hybrid PvE/PvP operation map with layered objectives.
• Destructible landmark prototypes in rotation for stress testing.
• Public workshop beta and curated community map playlist.

Long-term (12+ months)

• Fully supported in-client editor and map market for creators.
• Procedural event zones tied to seasonal storytelling.
• Comprehensive esports toolkit with server-side rule toggles and broadcast features.

How to vote and get your idea noticed (practical tips for players)

If your map suggestion is one of the hundreds you submitted, here’s how to make it count:

1. Make a one-minute clip: show the gameplay loop, why it’s fun, and what counters exist.
2. Post it in the right place: community Discord > “map-ideas” channel, a pinned Reddit thread, and tag the developers on X with a short caption and a poll.
3. Prototype in Creative (if available): use any in-game sandbox to build a small playable slice — playable prototypes get attention.
4. Be constructive: pair your idea with balance suggestions, accessibility notes, and potential bug cases.

Conclusion — the next map wave can be community-powered

Arc Raiders’ 2026 map roadmap is a massive opportunity. Community suggestions show players want maps that are flexible, broadcast-ready, and replayable. If Embark prioritizes modular design, telemetry-led iteration, and creator tooling, new maps won’t merely be cosmetic — they’ll be the backbone of seasons, events, and competitive play.

Actionable takeaways

• Embed telemetry from day one to prioritize changes that increase retention and reduce churn.
• Ship small prototypes fast and iterate in public with community playtests.
• Support creators with spectator tools and a path to publish maps in-game.
• Design for accessibility and performance across devices and network conditions.

Community Call-to-Action

We’re keeping a live poll and map-suggestion board for Arc Raiders on PlayGo. Vote for the features you care about, drop a one-minute clip of your idea, and join our next developer Q&A. Embark listens when feedback is clear, organized, and backed by playtest data — so help shape the maps you’ll call home in 2026.

Vote now, submit your clip, and join the discussion — make the next Arc Raiders map the one your squad never forgets.

Related Reading

• Listing Spotlight: Buy a Proven Vertical-Video Series from an AI-Optimized Studio
• Vice’s Reboot: What Advertisers and Local Brands Need to Know
• Affordable Mood-Making: How to Pair Discount Smart Lamps with Herbal Mist Diffusers
• From Agent to CEO: Career Pathways in Real Estate Leadership
• How to Spot a Viral Learning Format: From CES Winners to Holywater’s AI Model