Embark Studios is bringing brighter skies to Arc Raiders with the Headwinds update, set to roll out worldwide on January 27, 2026, on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. This update launches the Escalation Roadmap for early 2026, warming up the Cold Snap season with new content for seasoned Raiders.
The Headwinds update brings “Solo vs. Squads” matchmaking, available only to players at level 40+, where lone wolves go head-to-head with full squads for extra XP rewards and high-stakes bragging rights, ideal for streamers looking for the ultimate skill challenge. The Buried City map gets a new “Bird City” game mode, where scavenger birds swarm the ruins, making chimneys the new hotspots for loot amidst sand-covered dangers and enemy ambushes.
Players can also take on the “Trophy Display” mission, hunting giant ARC machines for sport to create a personal collection, gaining access to more rare blueprints and items such as the stealthy Sandwalker Set. Other rewards include new quests, open parties, increased squad invites, and quality-of-life changes to make raiding easier in the Rust Belt.
Speculation included sandstorms or swamps, but the birds swooping in have generated memes on Reddit and other social media platforms, with some players looking at the mode for Twitch content. Headwinds lays the groundwork for February’s Shrouded Sky (new ARC machines), March’s Flashpoint, and April’s Riven Tides with a new map.
PARIVISION has clean-swept Falcons with a 3-0 scoreline to win the BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 to bring home the first trophy in the history of the organisation. Stunning performances across the tournament and an unbelievable, flawless win at the Grand Finals concluded the season opener for them.
Getting off to a 2-0 start early on, the Falcons’ offense lost the lead as PARIVISION pulled back 3 in a row. Falcons managed to hit the board once again in Round 7 before PARIVISION came up with 4 in a row, one where Jame pulled a rabbit out of the hat with a stellar 1v3 retake clutch on A site Mirage. Closing the half 8-4, the Falcons switched sides with an unconvincing performance. PARIVISION built on their lead by winning the pistol before Falcons hit the board with the first gun round, but failed to convert the following, leading to the CIS team hitting map point first. Falcons threatened OT winning 4 in a row, but PARIVISION closed the series with an A-site split as they took an early lead in the series.
A 3-0 start to the game for the Falcons, put off to a better start to the game before dropping the ball as PARIVISION took the lead with a streak of rounds, with them taking 8 rounds as the Falcons managed 1 in between. Total domination put PARIVISION in the perfect position to hit the series point as soon as the second map of B05. PARIVISION winning the pistol extended their lead before Falcons converted the force buy and put together a streak of rounds to level the scoreline 9-9. Both teams traded rounds from this point onwards, but PARIVISION managed to convert it by the final round of regulation and brought home the second map of the series, reaching a series point. Dropping a 1.47 IR, Zweih stood tall with 19 kills, proving instrumental in a match that could have easily gone the other way.
Map 3: Inferno; Pick: Falcons: Winner: PARIVISION
5-0 start for PARIVISION gave them the best start in their history, putting them closer to a trophy than ever before. The Falcons got their first-round. Winning the first round on the defense prompted the Falcons to recover from the deficit, as neither team switched sides with a level scoreline. PARIVISION took an early lead off the back of another pistol round conversion, upon which both teams were evenly matched, but the Falcons’ offense failed to yield anything significant by the end of the half as a solid defense by PARIVISION closed the game from the brink of defeat. 21 kills from Nota highlighted his career-high performance as PARIVISION sealed the deal, taking home their first trophy in the organization’s history.
Falcons’ cracks are yet to be mended, and one can argue that they were more vulnerable without Kyosuke, but only time can tell how they will perform deep into the season. Events like this point out the flaws in teams, and if the Falcons are unable to mend them in time for the big events, then we might see another disappointing year for them.
Falcons have taken down Team Vitality to reach the Grand Finals of BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 after a stellar series involving both teams winning each other’s map picks, with Team Falcons dominating in the final map to see Vitality off.
Clean 2-0 start for Vitality managed to take an early lead on Inferno’s offence before Falcons stabilised and took the lead in the 7th round. Falcons’ shaky defence proved to be just enough to keep Vitality out despite the latter coming close on several occasions. A very uncomfortable close of the first half for NiKo and co. as they closed the half with a 7-5 scoreline after winning on the final round of the half. Winning the second pistol, Vitality roped in 4 rounds to take the lead before Falcons got back on the board. While Vitality seemed to be running away with the map, kyxan put a stop to it with a 1v3 that turned the tide of the game on round 17. Upon which, the Falcons managed to win 4 rounds in a row to close out the game stun Vitality on their own map pick. The 13-10 win had an unexpected face leading the charge as the IGL kyxan came up with 1.49 IR and 22 kills to give his side an early lead in the semi-finals.
Map 2: Anubis; Pick: Falcons; Winner: Vitality
An unexpected pick from the Falcons, given we are still on the old patch for this event, as Vitality managed to start with a 7-0 half. The curveball from the Falcons failed miserably as they failed to win more than 3 rounds in the first half. The rookie in Neucleonz found himself as the target point of Vitality’s offence as almost all of the attacks finished in B before they moved over to the T side with a 9-3 scoreline. Falcons won the pistol on their offense but dropped the ball in the following round after pushing through the smoke and giving ZyWoo an easy 3K that converted the force buy for them. Hitting the board on their defense, Vitality had little work ahead of them as an effortless 4 consecutive rounds closed the map. ZyWoo and flameZ with 1.83 and 1.93 IR dominated Falcons across the board and levelled the series in style.
Map 3: Mirage; Pick: Decider; Winner: Falcons
Having gotten battered on Anubis, Falcons stunned Vitality with an 8-0 start to the final map, with NiKo at the helm, things kicked off with a stellar ace. NiKo, m0NESY, and NucleonZ on the defence turned the A site into a fortress, rendering the Vitality offence toothless for the better part of the first half. Having won a single round, Vitality failed to win anything beyond that in the first half as we moved over with an 11-1 dominant lead from Falcons. In typical Falcons fashion, Falcons lost the pistol, leading to Vitality winning 5 rounds in a row and cutting down the lead before Falcons with a half buy A split hit series point and closed the map in the following round. A 21-kill masterclass of a Mirage from NiKo highlighted Falcon’s massive win over Vitality as they have found themselves in the Grand Finals of BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1.
This marks a massive win for the Falcons to kick 2026 off as they take down the reigning Major champions, as well as the best team in the world. To have a trophy at the beginning of the new year gives the Falcons the much-needed confidence for the coming events, as anything less than a Major will be deemed a failure for this star-studded roster.
Much like most other extraction shooters out there, completing quests is one of the primary forms of progression in Arc Raiders. Not only does questing reward players with tons of useful items like Blueprints, Outfits, and high-tier gear, but it also helps players learn the various maps in the game by forcing them to pass through key locations they might have otherwise missed.
While completing quests in Arc Raiders is completely optional, players are highly encouraged to do so to get better acquainted with the game and stack up on useful materials while they’re at it.
Before you start your questing journey in Arc Raiders, you must know exactly how many quests there are in the Embark Studios extraction shooter, as this helps you plan your progression without getting overwhelmed.
How Many Quests Does Arc Raiders Have?
At the time of writing, Arc Raiders has a total of 72 quests for players to complete. This number was originally lower at the time of the game’s initial release, but Embark added several new quests following the release of Stella Montis, all focusing on the new map.
Note that your questing progress, alongside various other forms of progression, will be reset if you choose to go on the Expedition with your Raider. However, Embark has confirmed that they’re planning to tweak the Expedition system in the future, so this mechanic could potentially change in future updates.
In the January 2026 roadmap, the developers have also revealed that they are working on new quests for Arc Raiders that are scheduled to drop in a future update. However, no exact timeframe has been given.
The Battlegrounds Mobile India Series 2026 (BGIS 2026) The Grind has concluded with all 24 matches complete across both groups, determining qualification spots for the next rounds. RNTX secures the top position in Group C with 248 points to advance directly to Round 3, while Los Hermanos dominates Group D with 238 points. The final day delivered high-stakes battle royale action as teams fought for crucial placement points.
BGIS 2026 The Grind Week 2 Day 4 Overall Standings
Group C overall standings after Match 24 are as follows:
Rank
Team
Matches Played
Position Points
Finish Points
Total
Qualification
1
RNTX
24
73
175
248
Round 3
2
LEFP
24
81
135
216
Round 3
3
TROY
24
64
125
189
Round 3
4
G4R
24
60
125
185
Round 3
5
VE
24
49
124
173
Round 3
6
FS
24
63
104
167
Round 3
7
VXT
24
48
102
150
Round 3
8
JUX
24
54
88
142
Round 3
9
ALT
24
61
79
140
Round 2
10
4W
24
48
85
133
Round 2
11
EG
24
25
90
115
Round 2
12
RiDR
24
32
77
109
Round 2
13
GXR
24
33
73
106
Round 2
14
AURA
24
28
75
103
Round 2
15
OSH
24
33
68
101
Round 2
16
MDL
24
16
16
32
Round 2
Group D overall standings after Match 24 are as follows:
Rank
Team
Matches Played
Position Points
Finish Points
Total
Qualification
1
LHS
24
84
154
238
Round 2
2
TA
24
67
150
217
Round 2
3
NINZ
24
62
133
195
Round 2
4
PNX
24
67
125
192
Round 2
5
ES
24
67
117
184
Round 2
6
BAE
24
59
100
159
Round 2
7
M4
24
42
105
147
Round 2
8
TIE
24
50
80
130
Round 2
9
SBZ
24
54
75
129
Round 1
10
LE
24
49
78
127
Round 1
11
RVLY
24
41
75
116
Round 1
12
GFM
24
24
91
115
Round 1
13
WW
24
31
70
101
Round 1
14
2OP
24
38
61
99
Round 1
15
GVT
24
21
65
86
Round 1
16
EVOM
24
18
67
85
Round 1
BGIS 2026 The Grind Week 2 Day 4 Matchwise Recaps
Group C Match Highlights
Match 22 – Rondo
The opening game of the final day for Group C erupted into a 4v3v3 battle between FS Esports, Revenant XSpark, and G4R in the closing circle. Revenant XSpark delivered an explosive performance, claiming the WWCD with a whopping 27 finishes to dominate the lobby in spectacular fashion.
Match 23 – Erangel
Erangel’s penultimate match came down to a 4v1v1 standoff between GlitchXReborn, AURA Esports, and Eggy Gaming as the zone compressed. GlitchXReborn executed clean rotations to secure the chicken dinner with 10 finishes, keeping their qualification hopes alive.
Match 24 – Erangel
The final match of Group C closed with an intense 2v2v2 firefight between Vasista Esports, LEFP, and 4W battling for survival in the last circle. LEFP clutched the crucial WWCD with 11 finishes, cementing their second-place finish on the overall standings and direct qualification to Round 3.
Group D Match Highlights
Match 22 – Erangel
Group D’s Day 4 opener concluded with a 3v3v2 clash between Los Hermanos, Mysterious4, and Meta Ninza in the final compound. Los Hermanos showcased dominant firepower to claim the chicken dinner with 13 finishes, extending their lead at the top of the table.
Match 23 – Miramar
The penultimate match featured a 4v1v1 endgame between Shadow Blitz, Bot Army Esports, and White Walkers as the desert zone closed in. Shadow Blitz outplayed the remaining squads to secure the WWCD with 8 finishes, climbing up the leaderboard in crucial moments.
Match 24 – Miramar
The tournament’s final match delivered a chaotic 4v4v1v1 showdown between Meta Ninza, Bot Army Esports, Shadow Blitz, and 2OP as teams fought for qualification points. Meta Ninza rose to the occasion, winning the chicken dinner with 12 finishes to cap off an action-packed BGIS 2026 The Grind.
Qualification Breakdown
BGIS 2026 The Grind has determined the path forward for all 32 teams. The top 8 teams from Group C, led by RNTX, LEFP, and TROY, advance directly to Round 3. The top 8 from Group D, headlined by Los Hermanos and Team Alpha, move to Round 2 alongside the bottom 8 from Group C. The remaining 8 teams from Group D will compete in Round 1.
The Counter-Strike 2 Premier Season 4 update has introduced a plethora of new content to the Valve competitive shooter, with the addition of the brand-new limited-edition AK-47 Aphrodite being one of the biggest highlights of the patch.
The AK-47 Aphrodite is the first Covert skin to be added to the CS2 Armory, and like every other limited-edition skin we’ve seen in the game so far, it also boasts dynamic visual variations based on pattern numbers as well as the wear value.
As a result, each AK-47 Aphrodite pattern number looks somewhat different in design, meaning no two versions of the skin are exactly the same. This makes every variant of the Aphrodite feel unique, despite having the same base skin.
Shortly after the AK-47 Aphrodite was released, CS2 skin enthusiasts found out that certain rare patterns for the skin could feature near-complete gold finishes, while others had a full purple or bronze body. Similar to what you’d find in a Case Hardened skin, these rare patterns for the AK Aphrodite were referred to as “Gold Gems”, “Purple Gems,” and “Bronze Gems.”
CS2 AK-47 Aphrodite Rare Patterns Guide
The AK-47 Aphrodite in CS2 can have a total of 1,000 different pattern numbers, each one being visually distinct from the other.
Steam user “korenevskiy” has made a detailed guide covering all the rare patterns for the AK-47 Aphrodite.
In this article, we’ll focus on the Gold Gems, Purple Gems, and Bronze Gem patterns.
As you can probably already guess from the pattern names, the Purple Gems are the variants that feature the maximum amount of purple on the gun body, while the Gold Gems feature the maximum gold color, and so on.
If you’re planning to redeem an AK-47 Aphrodite from the CS2 Armory yourself, be sure to check out your gun’s pattern to see if it matches one on this table. If it does, then you’re in luck, because rare patterns like these are generally considered to be a lot more valuable than the regular variants listed on the market.
Valve has released a compact update weighing in at 41.8 MB for CS2. In this update, the developer aims to address the bugs affecting Premier Mode just after the previous major update.
The headline fix addresses an issue with player name visuals on the Premier Mode leaderboard, where nicknames have been displayed in an incorrect format since the Season 4 game update.
It has been affecting users since the Season 4 deployment, introducing Anubis to maps and making certain adjustments, such as MP7 buffs. Subsequently, this patch targets stability issues affecting users: reducing minor game crashes and hitches.
Premier Mode began its fourth season on January 22, complete with map rotations and matchmaking resets in the process, bringing significant traffic that exposes these issues within the leaderboards system for competitive players and pros. No balance changes here. Just more technical tweaks that auto-download on restart through Steam.
Valve hasn’t released any patch note of this small update. To update CS2, just open the Steam client, go to the Manage Downloads section, and update the game.
Valve kicked off the highly-anticipated 75% price drop for StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 sticker capsules in Counter-Strike 2, pushing them down from $0.99 to $0.25 more than a month after Team Vitality’s win. The move, buried within the Season 4 update of CS2, encompasses team logos and player autographs from Contenders, Challengers, Legends, and the Champions Autographs featuring Vitality’s stars.
The StarLadder Budapest Major ran from November 24 to December 14, 2025, at Budapest’s MTK Sportpark and MVM Dome, drawing 32 teams for a $1.25 million prize pool. Vitality cruised past FaZe Clan 3-1 in the first best-of-five Major grand final of their lives (Nuke 6-13, Dust2 13-3, Inferno 13-9, Overpass 13-2), securing their second title of 2025 with ZywOo earning MVP honors. The event peaked at 1.5 million viewers, capping a historic season for the French squad.
In addition, there are borders with embroidery that are a first in a CS2 event. These are accompanied by non-committal displays, “Sticker Slabs.” The capsules contain Vitality’s “Champions” stickers, as well as autograph stickers like ZywOo’s “Holo.” The prices are also conducive to collecting, being lower than those of the Majors experienced in the past.
Capsules can be obtained through the in-game menu “Major Championship Hub and Items” with Steam Wallet money. Old players can wait for their packs to accumulate future worth in unopened capsules or even apply valuable capsules to weapons until the sale ends forever.
This discount creates hype for the memorabilia sold during the event, thereby providing a boost for revenue share for orgs such as Vitality in the thriving CS2 economic bubble. Fans went on a buying spree after the announcement, pushing up the trading volumes.
Valve has released its latest update after chaos ensued following a massive wave of false VAC Bans where clean players had their accounts subjected to a ban from the game.
Containing a plethora of minor changes, the update was the highlight of the patch notes by a mile, and what complements it are the three bugs players were facing when playing the freshly updated Anubis, which is now a part of the map pool.
The fact that Valve admitted they falsely banned players counts as a big win for players who were sad to have lost their accounts despite playing clean. Cheating is a prevalent problem, but Valve putting effort into aggressively banning would result in nothing but a few false positives, and one may argue that unbanning would also let loose a few cheaters.
Given that Valve treats this as a lesson, the developers of the anti-cheat will take a better look at how they confirm whether a player is cheating, and as many have argued, Overwatch must be brought back, as it played a big role in identifying incidents of obvious cheating.
Valve’s fight against cheaters is not new, and the problem remains prevalent even after the release of CS2 put their credibility into question, as games like Valorant have solved this with a hardware-level anti-cheat, while 3rd party platforms like Faceit have a more reliable anti-cheat system, making the platform more enjoyable.
CS2 players who were subjected to false VAC bans after yesterday’s VAC wave are getting unbanned as Valve has officially announced it in its latest patch. We are unsure what triggered the wave of false bans, but based on reports, players are getting their accounts back.
The Counter-Strike 2 community was taken by storm after players were hit with a massive wave of false Valve Anti-Cheat (VAC) bans following the latest update, which led to outrage on social media platforms. While Valve did not officially announce this, given the attention it garnered on social media, it is hard to imagine this flying by them.
JUST IN: CS2 Players who got Falsely VAC Banned after yesterday's update are getting Unbanned ‼️ pic.twitter.com/jbpwMeQ70E
Throughout Reddit and X, players and notable voices are claiming that the wave caught a few clean players, but Valve is lifting said bans as we publish this article. Whether all clean players have gotten their ban lifted is unclear; on the contrary, we cannot say for sure if any cheaters got their accounts back amidst this massive unban wave.
False bans are generally not a thing for Valve, given that the cheating problem has never been eradicated from the game completely, and fans have called them out for their lenient approach, which is why this incident surprised the community.
Players who were falsely banned and unbanned in the latest wave have received a message: “We apologise, it looks like we made a mistake and have removed this false ban”, which goes to show that, despite the absence of an official statement, Valve is confirming that this was a mistake on their part.
Cheating remains a prevalent issue even after several enhancements made with the anti-cheat, which forces players to opt for platforms like Faceit, given that Premier or Competitive game modes are riddled with cheaters, and facing cheaters demotivates players from playing it further.
