ARC Raiders players have plenty of ways to customize their character through outfits, accessories, and hairstyles, yet, one option continues to be in high demand, with some community members putting forth a unique way to integrate it into the game. Although ARC Raiders isn't a free-to-play game like some of its contemporaries, such as Delta Force or Arena Breakout, it does offer its players plenty of ways to earn new cosmetics, either through free methods or spending premium currency to unlock special bundles.

While players already have a wealth of options when first creating their character, some of the best free methods to unlocking even more are through ARC Raiders' free Raider Decks. Upon simply playing matches and performing various actions, players can earn Cred to spend on them, unlocking cosmetics like the Goalie armor set, resources, and other cosmetic items. The more Cred that is spent in a Raider Deck, the more pages ultimately unlock, leading to even more content. Better yet, these Raider Decks don't expire, so there's no FOMO elements for players to worry about, and they can unlock things at their own pace. ARC Raiders may have a wealth of customizable options that allow players to personalize their character, but there's still one feature that fans are hoping Embark adds sooner than later.

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The latest map condition to be added to ARC Raiders reignites disappointment among players, as the community continues to call for a big change.

ARC Raiders Players Offer Unique Way to Add Beards

Over on the ARC Raiders subreddit, a post from a user named Grip_the_artist reaffirms that community's desire for beard options for their characters. Beards have been a highly requested cosmetic feature for many players, though even with multiple big ARC Raiders updates, the option hasn't yet surfaced. SO far, Embark hasn't even specified if it'll ever happen, though some members of the community have seemingly found an interesting way to not only add beard options into the game, but narratively tie it to the in-game universe in a way that makes a lot of sense as well.

Inside of Grip_the_artist's post, they mention adding beards as a cosmetic option that only opens up for veteran players, those who have put in at least 150 hours topside. While 150 hours may be a bit much, the idea behind this is intriguing, as having a beard is essentially a way for players to show off that they've been invested in the game for a long time, or a "true veteran Raider" as Grip_the_artist indicates. The post is accompanied by what many assume to be an AI image of a raider having a long, Viking-style beard, giving them a more rugged look.

arc raiders aggression based matchmaking explained Image via Embark Studios

Besides the "Rock and Stone" comments about the dwarf-looking beard on the character, referencing Deep Rock Galactic's popular catchphrase, most agreed that adding beards should be a priority for Embark, though there were many who didn't like the "gatekeeping" aspect of this idea. Some offered their own versions of the idea, with numerous individuals tying beard growth to the number of raids survived. Dying while on a raid, either by an ARC enemy or another player, will reset the growth completely. Regardless, the main takeaway here is that players want a lot more facial hair options from Embark.

Although there's no timetable for beards, there will likely be plenty of opportunities as Embark recently revealed its post-launch plans for ARC Raiders through April 2026. The roadmap confirmed that every month will feature a big update filled with new content for players to enjoy. While Headwinds recently launched, February's Shrouded Sky update will open the next expedition window while also adding a new map condition, ARC enemy, player project, and Raider Deck. Scrappy will be getting some love in March, and by April, ARC Raiders will have a brand-new map and a large ARC enemy infiltrating the game. ALongside these major updates, Embark also intends to keep releasing cosmetics, quality of life updates, and more.

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ARC Raiders Tag Page Cover Art
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Extraction
Shooter
Third-Person Shooter
Survival
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Systems
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Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 93%
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Released
October 30, 2025
ESRB
Teen / Violence, Blood
Developer(s)
Embark Studios
Publisher(s)
Embark Studios
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ARC Raiders release window announced with launch plans
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
Cross-Platform Play
Yes - all platforms
Cross Save
Yes - via Embark ID
Number of Players
Single-player
Steam Deck Compatibility
Unknown
PC Release Date
October 30, 2025
Xbox Series X|S Release Date
October 30, 2025
PS5 Release Date
October 30, 2025
Genre(s)
Extraction, Shooter, Third-Person Shooter, Survival
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty