Speranza is not the only Arc Raiders Settlement – Lore Theory

Is Speranza the Only Settlement in ARC Raiders? We Investigate the Clues

In the world of ARC Raiders, we know our home base is the underground settlement of Speranza. From there, we go topside on risky raids to fight ARC machines, scavenge for supplies, and extract before our time runs out. That’s the core loop. But as we look toward the game’s long-term future, one huge question hangs in the air: are we, the Raiders of Speranza, truly alone?

Today, we’re going to dive deep into the clues and try to prove that we are not the last bastion of humanity. And the answer to this question is more important than you might think.

Why Multiple Settlements are Crucial for the Future of ARC Raiders

Let’s be real: any extraction game can get stale once you’ve mastered the maps and have all the gear you could ever want. Since the developers at Embark have said they want to avoid mandatory wipes, the game needs a robust endgame to keep things interesting. This is where other settlements come in.

If other hubs of resistance exist, it opens the door for incredible long-term content. Imagine faction wars, clan-based objectives, and high-risk, high-reward game modes where you’re not just fighting for loot, but for the pride of your home settlement. It could be the perfect gear sink for veteran players and add a whole new layer of depth to the world. So, with that in mind, let’s look at the evidence.

The Clues and the Proof: What do we know so far?

Clue #1: Shani’s Casual Welcome

Our first clue comes from Shani, Speranza’s head of security. She’s the first person you meet after the tutorial. When she finds you, she doesn’t recognize you, but she also isn’t shocked to see a stranger. If Speranza was the last known outpost of humanity, her reaction would be one of disbelief. Instead, her line in the Closed Alpha trailer is very telling:

“I can’t let you in until you identify yourself”

This implies people *do* come from other places. Her only concern is identifying you. She gives you a room, which becomes your Raider Den, suggesting it’s not unusual for newcomers to arrive and be given shelter. This is reinforced by another line from an in-game cinematic that mentions it’s “getting pretty crowded in Speranza.”

Clue #2: The Vast Network of Elevators around Speranza

The extraction elevators on the surface are spread across a massive area. It’s simply not practical to think they all lead directly back to a single location. If they did, Speranza would have to be the size of a modern megacity, making it impossible to manage and sustain. It’s far more likely that these elevators, along with the underground trains and Raider Hatches, connect to a vast network of tunnels that branch off to multiple settlements, with Speranza being just one of them.

Clue #3: The Intercom Slip-Up

A small but significant clue can be heard in the ambient audio of the game’s menu. An announcer occasionally comes over the intercom with messages, including this line:

“If anyone’s seen the Medical Crew of Speranza, tell them Sector C5 has been waiting for hours!”

Why specify “of Speranza”? If they were the only medical crew, the call would just be for “the medical crew.” This phrasing strongly suggests there are other crews from other settlements operating in the area, or even Topside, requiring a distinction to be made.

Clue #4: The Gameplay Reveal Trailer – Speranza is one of few safe places

One of our biggest clues comes directly from the official gameplay reveal trailer. The narrator describes Speranza as:

“One of the few places that are relatively safe from Arc Machines.”

“One of the few” is a clear admission that other safe havens exist. While they could be small bunkers, it’s a powerful hint that there are other places like Speranza out there.

The Final Proof: Apollo’s Backstory

Perhaps the most definitive piece of evidence comes from outside the game, in a character bio for one of Speranza’s traders, Apollo, posted by the new community manager. His backstory reads:

“Speranza isn’t Apollo’s first rodeo. A traveling mechanic, Apollo has chosen Speranza as his home for the time being… While he can at times seem cryptic about his past, Apollo can’t help but try and make wherever he is a better place.”

This is a smoking gun. He’s a “traveling” mechanic who has “chosen” Speranza as his home “for the time being.” This directly confirms he has been to other places and that there are other settlements to choose from.

Conclusion: We Are Not Alone

All the evidence makes it clear: Speranza is not the last human settlement. This would explain why Raiders fight each other on sight topside—they could be from rival settlements competing for precious resources. This makes us incredibly excited for the future of ARC Raiders and the potential for deep endgame systems that will keep the game fresh for years to come.

Don’t forget we get a chance to get hands-on with ARC Raiders on October 17 – 19. If you missed the news, check out our Arc Raiders Pre-Order article for a breakdown of the price and other exclusive bonuses, and join our community Discord to connect and chat with other passionate gamers!

We are hard at work developing helpful tools to assist you with your raids, topside, as well as updating our Arc Raiders maps:

• Arc Raiders Dam map
• Arc Raiders Spaceport map
• Arc Raiders Buried City map

– Bookmark these tools now to quickly return here when you need some help, topside!