Arc Raiders players braving the storm-tossed skies of the Rust Belt have stumbled upon something straight out of a sci-fi thriller: massive, unidentified flying objects cutting through the clouds. The discovery comes hot on the heels of yesterday's Shrouded Sky update, which Embark Studios rolled out on February 24th, 2026, transforming topside raids into chaotic tempests of wind, debris, and low visibility.
The update, detailed in patch notes 1.17.0, introduces the new Hurricane map condition: a dynamic weather event that whips up ferocious gales, hurling objects across the battlefield and slashing sightlines. It also unleashes two new Arc enemies: the Firefly, a flamethrower drone zipping through the air, and the Comet, a rolling orb packed with explosives. Balancing tweaks abound, including stealth nerfs like requiring a Rocketeer Driver to craft the Wolfpack grenade launcher and other items. Popular weapons such as the Stitcher SMG and Kettle shotgun got dialed back with the Stitcher's headshot multiplier dropped from 2.5 to 1.75, while Kettle's base damage took a hit aiming to curb PvP dominance and encourage diverse loadouts for players.
What in tarnation is that?
by u/Bewarden in ArcRaiders
But the real buzz that players are talking about isn't in the notes. Raiders scanning the stormy horizons during Hurricane events report glimpsing enormous silhouettes high above, often mistaken at first for pairs of Rocketeer drones. Zoomed-in clips reveal a single colossal craft, its angular profile evoking the Millennium Falcon or Batman's Batplane, complete with glowing accents piercing the gloom. Reddit user Bewarden's post in r/ARC_Raiders captured the moment perfectly: a video showing the UFO gliding steadily amid swirling clouds, too vast and purposeful to be a glitch.
Embark has been radio silent about it in the patch notes, listing only Firefly and Comet as new Arcs. This secrecy amps the intrigue, especially with Hurricanes tying into the narrative. Perhaps these UFOs stir the storms, lurking until raiders prove worthy. Community sleuths point to upcoming roadmaps: the Flashpoint update in March or Riven Tides in April as prime reveal windows.
For context, Arc Raiders thrives on these emergent discoveries. Embark's PvPvE extraction shooter, in early access on Steam since late 2025, pits squads against robotic ARC invaders in procedural runs. Extract loot from derelict zones while dodging rival raiders and machine hordes. Arcs being the towering bosses that demand coordinated fire. Past teases, like the distant Emperor silhouette, built hype for future content, and this UFO fits the pattern: subtle environmental storytelling that rewards eagle-eyed players.
Raiders adapting to Shrouded Sky emphasize Hurricane survival: audio cues pierce the wind for enemy flanks, ziplines counter debris, and new weather monitoring projects unlock intel. The free Surgeon Raider Deck sweetens the deal, while store bundles and Trials refresh cosmetics. Yet amid nerfs to many things like the Venator AR's fire rate trimmed, ARC Parts sell values slashed it is the UFO that steals the show, turning raids into sky-watching vigils.
Until confirmation, keep your scopes pointed skyward during Hurricanes. This could herald Arc Raiders' boldest encounter yet, blending extraction tension with spectacle. Storm the Rust Belt, raiders; the skies hold secrets. Stay tuned for more updates about it as we get them.