Embark Studios has taken player feedback to heart by increasing the frequency of Arc Raiders’ elusive Bird City map modifier event. This change comes after many players voiced concerns about its accessibility, particularly during certain time zones. The Bird City modifier debuted in the Headwinds update, introducing flocks of birds along with collectible Rubber Ducks and other interesting loot. However, its original schedule locked it into narrow time slots, mainly during the typical 9-5 workday hours, making it nearly impossible for players in European time zones to enjoy.
In a recent Discord message, community lead Ossen acknowledged the “issue” with the map conditions schedule. This was brought to light by players on Reddit when all map events temporarily disappeared from the game. “We just pushed an update enabling this week’s schedule while also increasing the frequency of Bird City. No download is needed, but please restart your game to update,” Ossen stated. He also mentioned that the team aims to tweak the schedule so players across all time zones have a fair shot at participating. While there won’t be any store updates or patches this week, players can anticipate more changes in the upcoming week.
Currently, the event schedule (as seen on Arc Raiders Hub) shows a notable increase in Bird City sessions—now featuring nine one-hour slots daily, up from just three. While the question remains as to why these events aren’t randomized instead of fixed to specific hours, at least European players now have a much better chance to experience Bird City.
“Was it worth it? Not really,” shared a player who spent “2 months and 300 hours” chasing an ultra-rare achievement only 14 others have managed to secure—and found the grind was far from enjoyable.