The December 4, 2025 update for ARC Raiders temporarily removes the popular Hidden Bunker event after wall-glitch exploits allowed cheaters to farm Trial points unfairly. This sudden disappearance has left many legitimate players frustrated, especially those who relied on the bunker for weekly progress ARC Raiders blueprints buy.
Update 1.5.0 disables Hidden Bunker entirely to prevent further abuse while the developers work on permanent fixes. Although the in-game store received new items, no major balance adjustments arrived with this patch, disappointing players who expected Thursday updates to counter previous nerfs. Persistent issues—such as wool exploits on Stella Montis and out-of-bounds escapes via ziplines—continue to affect gameplay, underscoring the heavy pressure the development team faces.
The current Trial system remains a major point of contention. Weekly Trials favor players who join early in the week, as Thursday patches often reduce progression rates. Without Hidden Bunker, late-week participants fall even further behind, making it difficult to stay competitive. Many players have begun completing only the minimal star requirements instead of attempting full Trial runs, arguing that the system feels tied to schedule availability rather than effort or skill. Although the developers have promised improvements, the mismatch between update timing and Trial cycles continues to erode interest during a crucial period for the game.
The update also exposes deeper challenges within Embark Studios. The team appears to have underestimated the explosive popularity of ARC Raiders, leaving a relatively small staff struggling to handle bug fixes, content demands, and a massive influx of players. Recruitment is underway, but the timing is difficult with the holiday season approaching. Unclear communication surrounding the December 15 Expedition stash value requirements has also caused anxiety among players deciding how much gear to save. Compared with the smoother launch of The Finals, some in the community question how resources are shared across Embark’s projects.
Despite these setbacks, the upcoming mid-December Cold Snap update offers hope for renewed momentum. The update introduces snowfall weather effects, Flickering Flames events, a new Raider Deck, and optional Expedition resets for players seeking fresh progression paths. Many veterans recommend staying patient and avoiding especially glitch-heavy areas like Spaceport until hotfixes arrive. If Embark can address critical bugs quickly, Cold Snap may help stabilize the player base and restore confidence in the game’s direction.
In conclusion, Update 1.5.0 has highlighted both the strengths and growing pains of ARC Raiders. Hidden Bunker’s removal underscores the need for stronger anti-exploit measures and better event timing, while ongoing communication gaps and technical issues reveal the pressures on the development team. With Cold Snap approaching, the community remains hopeful that upcoming content and timely fixes will bring balance, fairness, and excitement back to the experience.
