It looks like Arc Raiders is finally adding beards in the Shrouded Sky update, plus a hurricane map condition that eats your shield and sends your grenades flying

A new teaser for the Arc Raiders Shrouded Sky update sheds some light on what developer Embark Studios has in store for the next stage of the game's early 2026 roadmap. The sky looks unsurprisingly shrouded by storms, and what's more, your raider's face may be shrouded by a beard.

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Shrouded Sky is out Tuesday, February 24, and anticipation for the update has spiked following the beard reveal at the end of this teaser. Players have been asking for facial hair options in character customization ever since Arc Raiders was released, and based on the bearded, Venator-wielding man shown at the end of the trailer, they're about to get their wish.

The focus of the trailer is the new map condition coming in the update. A hurricane is approaching, with extreme winds and limited visibility presenting any above-ground raiders with a grueling challenge. It looks like several maps, including Dam Battlegrounds, Spaceport, and – squinting – Blue Gate will support the new condition.

In a blog post explaining the Arc Raiders Hurricane map condition, Embark warns that the intense winds will slow you down when you're moving against the storm, though they can also speed you up if you catch a tailwind at your back.

"Throwables will also behave differently in these conditions, and it may take a while to master the trajectory of thrown items like grenades," Embark says. "Other aspects of gameplay like smoke, gas, and even jumping will be affected by the power of the Hurricane." So, expect that perfect grenade throw to veer off-course like a fly ball.

Where the wintry cold snap condition will sap your health after extended exposure, hurricane debris will "degrade your shield and make you more visible to other raiders," Embark explains. Your raider will regularly spark and sputter as you take shield damage out in the storm, meaning "you’ll have to decide when to wear your shield, and when it becomes a hindrance."

"The true masters of the Hurricane will be those who work with it, not against it," Embark says, encouraging a bit of PvP in the form of shieldless ambushes, and teasing raider caches containing "relics of the First Wave, that have been unearthed by the ferocious winds."

Arc Raiders players are killing Queens and Matriarchs way too fast, devs admit, because it's "not intended" for entire lobbies to dogpile them.