As many of Arc Raiders’ regular players predicted, the game’s first post-launch map won’t just be available for everyone, it will instead be closely tied to a community event. Breaking New Ground is the name of that event, and it’s one where everyone will need to contribute in order to rebuild some old tunnels and unlock the way to Stella Montis.
The event kicks off today alongside the release of the game’s latest patch. The ask is relatively simple: players must commit Basic Materials to the project so that the tunnels can be rebuilt. This option will be available to anyone who’s played at least five rounds.
If you’ve spent any time in Arc Raiders, you’ll know that Basic Materials are things like Metal parts, Fabric, Chemicals, Rubber Parts, and Plastic Parts – most of which are easy to find in the game’s various maps.
Even beyond the ultimate goal of unlocking the new map, donations will also reward you with Merits, which is a new event currency, though there’s a cap on how many you can earn.
Once enough materials have been collected, the next phase of the event, Staking Our Claim, will begin, which will bring a new progression track to the game, and make Stella Montis available for players to visit.
Developer Embark describes the new environment as unlike any that we have seen in the game so far. It’s a facility carved into the northern mountains, which means it’s going to have a near-pristine look; quite the contrast with the rest of the game’s environments.
Stella Montis also has its own Arc enemies, loot, schematics, and other gameplay items. You can look forward to coming across the Shredder, a close-quarter Arc unit exclusive to the new map for now.
Then there’s The Matriarch, a somehow even larger version of the Queen. Thankfully, it will only be available under a specific map condition, so you’re in no danger of running into her randomly. The update will also introduce a new legendary weapon, two new grenades, and three new mines.
Staking Our Claim will only run until December, which is when the next stage of the game’s roadmap will kick off. Then, the Cold Snap update will introduce the Flickering Flames event, the first snowfall Map Condition, and the Expedition Project voluntary wipe.
In case you’re still missing them, here’s how to find lemons and apricots, prickly pear, and olives.
