ARC Raiders Update 1.36.0 News - THE FINALS Crossover, New Matchmaking, Expedition 4, Trials Season 5

ARC Raiders Update 1.36.0 is now live, bringing one of the most practical patches since launch. The update is not built around a massive new map or weapon drop, but it touches almost every important part of the current game loop: matchmaking, cosmetics, Expeditions, Trials, store presentation, ARC loot, anti-cheat, and fair play systems.

The headline features are the ARC Raiders x THE FINALS crossover, separate matchmaking tracking for Solo, Duo, and Trio, the start of Expedition 4, and the arrival of Trials Season 5. For active Raiders, this is a strong week to return Topside, especially if you care about cosmetics, seasonal rewards, and cleaner matchmaking.

Key Takeaways

Update 1.36.0 is live: the patch launched on July 7, 2026.

New matchmaking: ARC Raiders now tracks Solo, Duo, and Trio playstyles separately.

THE FINALS crossover: players can earn the Azimuth outfit and Archeologist backpack bundle in ARC Raiders by completing contracts in THE FINALS.

Expedition 4: the new Expedition reward track introduces the Zenith outfit and Mystery Rewards.

Trials Season 5: the Scorta outfit is the new seasonal Trials reward.

Fair play: Denuvo Anti-Cheat rollout is complete, and Embark is continuing work against duplication exploits and unfair loadouts.

Solo, Duo, and Trio Matchmaking Are Now Tracked Separately

The biggest gameplay-facing change in Update 1.36.0 is the new squad-size matchmaking logic. ARC Raiders now tracks your playstyle separately across Solo, Duo, and Trio rounds.

Before this update, your behavior in one squad format could influence matchmaking in another. A peaceful solo player who gathered resources could still be affected by aggressive trio sessions, and a PvP-heavy trio player could drag that profile back into solo runs. With 1.36.0, each format has its own matchmaking identity.

This should make switching between farming, questing, and PvP sessions feel more consistent. Solo players can play slower and safer without worrying that trio aggression will immediately bleed into their solo lobbies.

ARC Raiders x THE FINALS Crossover

ARC Raiders and THE FINALS are crossing over for the first time. From July 9 at 3pm CEST until July 30 at 3pm CEST, players can complete contracts in THE FINALS to unlock the Azimuth outfit and Archeologist backpack bundle in ARC Raiders.

After that window, the promotion flips direction, letting players earn the Azimuth bundle in THE FINALS by playing ARC Raiders. For players who enjoy both Embark games, this is the main limited-time reward to focus on during the update window.

New Cosmetics and Skins in Update 1.36.0

Update 1.36.0 adds or highlights several cosmetic reward paths. Some come from gameplay, some from the store, and some from the crossover event.

Cosmetic	Source	What to Know
Azimuth Outfit	THE FINALS crossover	Earned through crossover contracts during the event window.
Archeologist Backpack Bundle	THE FINALS crossover	Paired with the Azimuth crossover reward.
Zenith Outfit	Expedition 4	The first level of the new Zenith outfit is tied to the fourth Expedition.
Scorta Outfit	Trials Season 5	Seasonal Trials reward with variants based on final placement.
Triumph Set	Store Update	Listed as the new store set in Update 1.36.0.
Bog Walker Color Variants	Cosmetic fix / refund	Embark is issuing automated Raider Token refunds for players who paid extra for missing color variants.

Triumph Set and Store Redesign

The patch list names The Triumph Set as the new store update item and also includes a store redesign. Embark also notes that some clipping issues exist with the Triumph and Azimuth outfits, so players should expect minor visual cleanup in a future patch.

Expedition 4 Brings the Zenith Outfit

Expedition 4 is live alongside Update 1.36.0, with its departure window running from July 7 at 1pm CEST to July 21 at 10am CEST. Players must complete the Caravan, sign up during the window, finish the Expedition Challenge, and depart when the window closes.

The main permanent cosmetic reward is the first level of the Zenith Outfit. Expedition 4 also changes the reward structure for veteran players: instead of more Skill Points from the challenge, players can earn Blueprints and Raider Tokens through Mystery Rewards.

Expedition 4 Damage Thresholds

Reward Tier	Damage Requirement
Reward 1	5,000 total damage
Reward 2	10,000 total damage
Reward 3	30,000 total damage
Reward 4	50,000 total damage
Reward 5	100,000 total damage

Each completed departure objective can reward a Blueprint, and each objective also grants 150 Raider Tokens. Unlike temporary Blueprints, Raider Tokens are permanent.

Trials Season 5 Rewards: Scorta Outfit

Trials Season 5 starts with the Expedition window and runs until September 30, 2026. The new seasonal outfit is Scorta, with variations awarded based on final placement.

Players who reach Hotshot or Cantina Legend can unlock exclusive red and blue color variants. The season also includes additional cosmetics such as the Green Bruiser backpack, Pressure Gauge backpack charm, Hydraulic Pump backpack attachment, and the Come at me emote.

The new Trials objectives include fresh challenge types, such as damaging specific ARC machines with certain weapons and absorbing Pop explosions, alongside returning objective formats.

ARC Turbine Loot Buff and Gameplay Fixes

One of the best PvE changes in Update 1.36.0 is the ARC Turbine loot buff. Embark says the rewards were too low compared to the effort required, so the value of ARC Turbine drops has been significantly increased.

The patch also fixes several gameplay issues. ARC Turbines should no longer disappear right after spawning, knockback from Queen and Matriarch stomps should no longer pass through walls, and ARC Turbine parts no longer drop from Couriers.

Quality-of-Life Improvements

Weapons dropped on the ground now show their installed mods, which makes looting decisions cleaner. The Raider Den shelf now prioritizes higher-value individual items more correctly, and the Emote Wheel updates availability while open.

Known Issues in Update 1.36.0

PC performance: some PC players may experience lower FPS than usual. Embark recommends checking GPU drivers while the issue is being investigated.

Xbox Series S crashes: some Xbox players, especially on Series S, are experiencing crashes.

Cosmetic clipping: Triumph and Azimuth outfits have known clipping issues.

Quick Wheel and gadget bugs: item selection, throw animations, cancel prompts, and weapon swap animations can still behave incorrectly in some cases.

What Players Should Do First

1. Start the THE FINALS crossover contracts if you want the Azimuth outfit and Archeologist backpack bundle before the July 30 deadline.

2. Sign up for Expedition 4 during the active window and work toward the damage thresholds for Blueprints and Raider Tokens.

3. Begin Trials Season 5 if you want Scorta outfit variants and the new seasonal cosmetics.

4. Farm ARC Turbines if you skipped them before. The loot buff should make them more worthwhile than in previous versions.

FAQ

When did ARC Raiders Update 1.36.0 release?

ARC Raiders Update 1.36.0 released on July 7, 2026.

What is the main feature of Update 1.36.0?

The biggest gameplay change is separate matchmaking tracking for Solo, Duo, and Trio rounds. The update also includes Expedition 4, Trials Season 5, THE FINALS crossover, store changes, and fair play improvements.

How do you get the Azimuth outfit in ARC Raiders?

During the crossover event, players can complete contracts in THE FINALS to unlock the Azimuth outfit and Archeologist backpack bundle in ARC Raiders.

What is the Expedition 4 outfit?

The Expedition 4 cosmetic reward is the Zenith Outfit.

What is the Trials Season 5 outfit?

The Trials Season 5 reward outfit is Scorta, with variants based on final placement.

Did ARC Turbine loot get buffed?

Yes. Update 1.36.0 significantly increases the value of loot dropped by ARC Turbines.