ARC Raiders has officially surpassed 17 million copies sold, according to Nexon's Q3 2026 financial results released on November 10. The milestone highlights the continued commercial success of Embark Studios' extraction shooter, but the latest financial update also provides a more realistic picture of its growth trajectory.  With Frozen Trail now released, two major content updates planned annually, and the results of the experimental PvE matchmaking test still awaiting further discussion, players have several reasons to watch the game's next development steps. The immediate question is no longer simply how many copies ARC Raiders can sell. It is how Embark intends to maintain player interest between major releases while improving the experience for different types of Raiders. ARC Raiders Future Updates Revealed: 17 Million Sales, Roadmap & PvE Plans ARC Raiders Reaches 17 Million Sales, but Growth Is Normalizing Nexon confirmed that ARC Raiders has sold more than 17 million units worldwide. This represents another significant milestone for Embark Studios, particularly considering the game's successful first year following its 2025 launch. However, the latest results also suggest that the extraordinary momentum surrounding the game's launch is beginning to normalize. In its November 10 earnings presentation, Nexon acknowledged that Frozen Trail successfully brought back inactive players and attracted additional buyers. The expansion, released on October 8, introduced a large new map, additional ARC enemies, weapons, and outfits. Patrick Söderlund, Nexon's Executive Chairman, explained during the earnings call that both in-game activity and unit sales initially received a strong response in October before gradually returning toward more normal levels. This distinction matters. Reaching 17 million sales demonstrates substantial demand, but it does not necessarily mean the game will continue expanding at the same pace. Nexon's financial guidance also reflects this changing situation. The company expects ARC Raiders' fourth-quarter 2026 revenue to decline year over year compared with the game's launch quarter in 2025, while remaining broadly flat compared with the previous quarter. Nexon attributed this outlook partly to lower revenue per unit from promotional discounts and differences in revenue recognition. Additional unit sales, the Premium Reward Pass, and the Collector Set DLC package are expected to contribute during the quarter. For players, the important takeaway is that Embark still has a commercially successful game, but maintaining that success will increasingly depend on delivering meaningful reasons to return. What Is the Future ARC Raiders Update Schedule? One of the most important announcements for long-term players is Embark's commitment to delivering at least two major content updates every year. The studio previously explained its decision to move away from monthly major updates in its May 13 development announcement. According to Embark, the pressure of maintaining a monthly schedule limited how transformative individual updates could become. Instead, the developer wants more time to create larger releases that meaningfully change the experience. Patrick Söderlund reinforced this strategy during Nexon's November 10 earnings call, describing two high-quality major updates annually as an appropriate cadence for maintaining the existing community and attracting new players. The distinction between major expansions and regular live-service updates is particularly important. Embark has not announced plans to stop supporting ARC Raiders between major content releases. Its existing commitment includes regular live updates, balance adjustments, bug fixes, store updates, and player events. Update Category Development Plan Expected Player Impact Major content updates At least twice annually Larger gameplay additions and substantial changes Live updates Ongoing Continued improvements and gameplay adjustments Bug fixes and balance Regular support Better stability and gameplay balance Store updates Continued releases Additional cosmetic options Player events Ongoing live-service support More reasons to return between expansions This approach could benefit players who prefer meaningful additions over frequent but relatively small content drops. Larger development windows also give Embark more opportunities to work on progression, the in-game economy, and anti-cheat measures. However, there is a trade-off. Longer intervals between major expansions mean that smaller updates and events will need to provide enough variety to keep the experience engaging. Could the Next Major Expansion Arrive in April 2027? Frozen Trail arrived on October 8, 2026, as the game's second major development milestone under the revised update strategy. If Embark maintains a roughly six-month interval between major releases, April 2027 would be a reasonable window for the next substantial expansion. However, this is an editorial projection based on the announced twice-yearly schedule, not an officially confirmed release date. Players should therefore avoid treating April 2027 as a guaranteed launch window until Embark publishes a specific roadmap. In the meantime, smaller additions could remain important for players who want new objectives, equipment options, and reasons to explore the Rust Belt. For Raiders planning their progression, keeping track of valuable ARC Raiders items, weapons, and equipment will remain part of preparing for future content. New gameplay systems or progression changes could eventually influence which resources become more useful, although Embark has not announced any specific upcoming item-value adjustments. Will ARC Raiders Finally Introduce Permanent PvE Matchmaking? Beyond the sales milestone and update schedule, the future of PvE matchmaking is arguably one of the most interesting topics surrounding ARC Raiders. Embark experimented with a dedicated PvE matchmaking toggle between October 13 and October 20, 2026. The limited-time test allowed players to choose between the traditional PvPvE experience and sessions focused entirely on fighting ARC enemies alongside other Raiders. During the test, player-versus-player damage was disabled, while Solo, Duo, and Trio players could share PvE sessions. Embark also made adjustments to the experience, including changes to loot value. The experiment generated substantial participation. According to Embark's October 20 announcement, players completed more than 30 million PvE rounds during the testing period. The studio described the initial response as polarizing and emphasized that it needed additional time to evaluate the results. Importantly, Embark did not promise that the test would lead to a permanent PvE option. The developer said it would prioritize the overall health and enjoyability of ARC Raiders when deciding what to do next. It also promised to provide further information in November. This means the next communication from Embark could be particularly important. A permanent PvE option could give cooperative players more flexibility while allowing the traditional extraction experience to retain its identity. On the other hand, implementing separate matchmaking environments requires careful consideration of progression, loot rewards, player distribution, and the overall balance between different playstyles. The original test already demonstrated that PvE participation was substantial, but participation alone does not establish what the final system should look like. Players should therefore distinguish between Embark's confirmed intention to share more information and speculation about whether a permanent mode will arrive. Sources: Embark's PvE Test Announcement and PvE Test Results. Update 2.5.0 Adds New Vanguard Set Color Variants While players wait for more substantial gameplay changes, Embark continues to deliver smaller updates and cosmetic additions. On November 10, the studio released Store Update 2.5.0, introducing two new color variants for the Vanguard Set: Orange: A new color option for players who prefer a brighter appearance. Black/White: An alternative visual style with a contrasting color combination. The update does not require a game restart, making the new cosmetic options immediately accessible. Source: Official ARC Raiders Store Update 2.5.0. Although cosmetic releases do not fundamentally change the extraction gameplay loop, they help maintain player engagement between larger content drops. The official news feed also shows that Embark has continued publishing updates throughout November, including Store Update 2.4.0 on November 3 and Hotfix 2.4.1 on November 5. ARC Raiders Store Update 2.5.0 introduces two color variants for Vanguard Set Is Another ARC Raiders Update Coming on November 17? November 17 has been suggested as the expected date for the next live update, following the recent pattern of regular maintenance and content releases. However, as of now, Embark has not published an official announcement confirming November 17 as the next major update date. It is also important to distinguish between a regular live update and a major content expansion. The former could involve fixes, balance adjustments, or smaller gameplay improvements, while the latter would represent a substantially larger development release. Players should keep an eye on Embark's official news page for confirmation rather than treating the projected date as an established release schedule. What Players Should Expect from ARC Raiders in the Coming Months? Looking at the available information, ARC Raiders appears to be entering a different stage of its development. Its initial commercial success has established a substantial player base, while Frozen Trail has demonstrated that a major content release can bring back inactive players and attract additional buyers. The next challenge is maintaining that momentum. There are three particularly important areas to watch. 1. More meaningful progression opportunities Embark has already identified progression and economy balancing as important development priorities. Future major updates could provide additional reasons for experienced Raiders to pursue new objectives, collect equipment, and explore the Rust Belt. For players who enjoy preparing their loadouts, the value of weapons, materials, and other ARC Raiders items will remain closely connected to how these systems evolve. 2. A clearer direction for PvE matchmaking The October experiment generated more than 30 million PvE rounds, giving Embark a substantial amount of data to evaluate. Its promised November follow-up should help clarify whether the studio intends to bring back the matchmaking toggle, modify the concept, or explore another approach. Whatever the decision, the challenge will be supporting cooperative players without undermining the tension that defines the traditional PvPvE experience. 3. Consistent support between major expansions Two major updates annually do not mean players should expect six months of inactivity. Embark has explicitly committed to continued live-service support, including fixes, balance changes, cosmetic releases, and events. That ongoing support will be especially important as the game moves further away from its launch period and competes for players' time against other multiplayer releases. Final Thoughts ARC Raiders surpassing 17 million sales is an impressive achievement, but Nexon's latest financial results also highlight why the next stage of development matters. Embark is moving toward a more deliberate content strategy built around two major updates per year, supported by smaller live-service releases. Frozen Trail has provided a strong foundation, but the studio still needs to demonstrate that it can sustain interest between expansions. For now, the biggest unanswered question is the future of PvE matchmaking. With Embark promising additional information in November, players may soon learn whether the experimental feature has a permanent place in the game's future. The next few months should provide a clearer picture of how Embark plans to balance new content, player choice, and long-term progression while keeping Rust Belt worth exploring.

MapleStory Classic World's economy works in a unique way. Rather than rewarding players with more mesos simply for fighting higher-level monsters, it relies heavily on supply and demand between players. When grinding in your 20s and 30s, you can often find monsters that drop Throwing Stars worth anywhere from 200,000 to 600,000 mesos in player shops. There are several farming spots like these throughout Victoria Island. Let's take a look at the best monsters to farm for mesos from Level 10 to 70. MapleStory Classic World Level 10-70 Meso Farming | Best Maps and Monster Drops Level 10-15 The best meso farming spot at this level isn't in Henesys at all. Line 1, Area 1, located in Kerning City, contains 64 Bubblings and no other monster types. According to player reports, this map can generate around 40,000 mesos per hour. By comparison, Hunting Grounds in Henesys yield between 9,000 and 33,000 mesos per hour. Bubblings can drop Pet Equip. Speed Scrolls 60%, which are listed for approximately 110,000 mesos in player shops. If the subway is too crowded, try farming Level 14 Green Mushrooms instead. They can drop Pan Lids. NPC shops only offer 2,000 mesos for a Pan Lid, but players list them for around 85,000 MapleStory Classic World gold. Remember to sell it to other players rather than NPCs. Level 15-20 Stirges in Dark Cave can generate approximately 61,000 mesos per hour, with individual monsters reportedly dropping between 40 and 49 mesos. They can also drop Pet Jump Scrolls 60% and Iron Ore. Iron Ore deserves special attention. NPC shops only offer 20 mesos for each piece, while player shops list it for as much as 330 mesos. Make sure to trade with other players. Ghost Stumps in Excavation Site 1 generate approximately 60,000 mesos per hour. They can also drop Pet Jump Scrolls 60% and Iron Ore. Blue Mushrooms offer slightly lower farming returns, but they can drop Gloves Critical Rate Scrolls 10%, which are worth approximately 75,000 MSCW mesos. Level 20-25 Ant Tunnel 3 contains 61 Zombie Mushrooms and 38 Horny Mushrooms, with individual monsters dropping between 50 and 76 mesos. However, the real jackpot is Claw Attack Scroll 60%. NPC shops only offer 1 meso for it, while player shops list it for around 450,000 mesos, with even the lowest listings reaching approximately 245,000. Excavation Site 2 contains no Wooden Masks and 12 Rocky Masks. It generates approximately 68,000 mesos per hour. Monsters here can drop Earring STR Scrolls and Two-Handed Sword ATT Scrolls, both of which can fetch nearly 100,000 mesos. Dark Stumps in East Rocky Mountain 5 can drop Wooden Tops. NPC shops offer only 500 mesos for them, while player shops list them for approximately 200,000 mesos. Level 25-30 Cave of Evil Eye II and Cave of Evil Eye III generate approximately 82,000 mesos per hour. Each map contains nearly 40 Evil Eyes, which drop between 53 and 60 mesos individually. They can also drop Pole Arm ATT Scrolls 10%, worth around 39,000 mesos. Iron Hogs near Pig Park 2 generate approximately 59,000 mesos per hour. They can drop Steel Guards, which are worth around 45,000 mesos. This area is also a Mushmom spawn location. Level 30-35 Burnt Land IV contains Fire Boars and Dark Stumps, generating approximately 102,000 mesos per hour. Fire Boars drop between 63 and 77 mesos and can also drop Arwin's Glass Shoes, which are worth around 60,000 mesos in player trades. Line 2, Area 1 offers an efficiency of approximately 99,000 mesos per hour. It contains 83 Jr. Wraiths, which have a chance to drop Mokbi Throwing Stars. These throwing stars are worth around 200,000 mesos in player trades. Level 35-40 Monkey Swamp I is almost entirely populated by Lupins, but it only generates around 57,000 mesos per hour. Burnt Land IV is a better alternative, as it also contains 14 Lupins, offering higher overall returns. Lupins can drop Kumbi Throwing Stars, which are listed for approximately 600,000 mesos in player shops. Mushmom respawns roughly once per hour, or sometimes even longer. Players report receiving between 1,800 and 2,200 mesos per kill. However, the real reward is Gloves ATT Scroll 60%, which is listed for approximately 1.6 million mesos. Level 40-45 Monkey Forest I contains Zombie Lupins, generating approximately 107,000 mesos per hour. They can drop Black Napoleon Capes, which are worth around 89,000 mesos. Skeledogs in Remains Tomb I have a chance to drop Overall Armor STR Scrolls 60%, listed for approximately 500,000 mesos in player shops. Copper Drakes in East Rocky Mountain 7 can drop Earring Critical Damage Scrolls 60%, worth around 450,000 mesos. Ice and Lightning Mages are particularly effective against them. Level 45-50 Line 2, Area 2 contains 57 Wraiths, 32 Jr. Wraiths, and 18 Jr. Neckis. Wraiths drop between 92 and 113 mesos and also have a chance to drop Red Whips, worth approximately 70,000 mesos. If the map is too crowded, you can switch to Line 2, Area 3 or Line 1, Area 4. Another option is Remains Tomb I, where Mummydogs can drop Arc Staffs worth approximately 600,000 mesos and Serpent's Tongues worth around 300,000 mesos. Level 50-55 Drake Hunting Ground is a good farming location. Drakes have a chance to drop Shinkita and Overall Armor LUK Scrolls 60%, both worth approximately 800,000 mesos. Shinkita is generally worth slightly more. Maladies in Forest of Evil 2 can drop Cromi, which can fetch around 2.8 million mesos in player trades. Level 55-60 Camp 1 in Excavation Site contains 20 Skeleton Soldiers and 5 Skeleton Officers, generating approximately 180,000 mesos per hour. Camp 2 is expected to yield around 135,000 mesos per hour. Dark Stone Golems in Sleepy Dungeon 5 generate an estimated 124,000 mesos per hour. They can drop Tobi Throwing Stars, which are worth approximately 3 million mesos. Level 60-65 Camp 3 contains 14 Skeleton Officers and 6 Skeleton Soldiers. The officers can drop Nine Dragons Polearms and Skull Shields, both of which can fetch over a million mesos. You can also try Dangerous Valley 2, where Red Drakes can drop Steely Throwing Knives worth as much as 11 million mesos. However, Red Drakes spawn periodically, so the map's estimated farming return is only around 85,000 mesos per hour. Level 65-70 There are very few regular monsters on Victoria Island that are particularly suitable for this level range. Camp 1 remains a practical meso farming option, while Camp 3 is worth visiting if you're specifically looking for Skeleton Officer drops. The value of these monster drops can change daily, so you should adjust your farming choices according to the player market. Regardless of your level, remember to trade ores, leathers, and valuable drops with other players instead of selling them to NPCs.