New ARC Raiders The update introduces several changes not mentioned in its patch notes, including a couple of shadow nerfs and another tweak to the hatch animation. Although it is currently unclear whether these innovations were accidentally removed from the official changelog, some of them have proven to be controversial. ARC Raiders players.
Identified by version number 1.13.0, the first major 2026 update for ARC Raiders Rolled out on PC and consoles on January 27th. The patch introduced new matchmaking options and more activities, tweaking maps, mobs, loot, quests, and audio, among other elements.
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ARC Raiders 1.13.0 made stealth looting more annoying
While the patch notes attached to the new update list dozens of changes, it appears that they are not complete. Early player reports indicate that build 1.13.0 introduces several unlisted adjustments with significant gameplay impact. Among them is a change to the hatch animation, which is now made slower again. The same goes for the looting action, which is reportedly noticeably slower even after receiving the relevant upgrades. ARC Raiders Skill tree. In particular, the time it takes for items to appear after a container search has been increased, making the looting process more difficult. This unannounced change has led to complaints from some players on social media.
This isn't the first time that the popular evacuation shooter has made a quiet change to the looting mechanic. one of the ARC Raiders Updates rolled out in mid-December 2025 previously had the opposite effect, revealing container searches and objects. Based on this new wave of player reports, it would appear that the 1.13.0 patch has reversed those changes, so action is now almost as fast as it was in December with each upgrade level of the Looter's Instincts skill. As Embark did not provide any approval of any of the changes, the reasoning behind this controversial sequence of adjustments remains unclear. One possibility is that the developer deliberately reversed an earlier tweak based on telemetry data, opting for a slower looting experience due to some high-level design goals. Another is that the previous speed increase was unintentional, making the January 2026 patch an improvement rather than a balance adjustment.
ARC raiders quietly nerfed some guns
ARC Raiders Players are reporting fire rate shadow nerfs to Kettle, Venator, and Burleta since the last update of January 2026. The change marks the second nerf to the Kettle in a few weeks, as the semi-automatic rifle previously received a similar reduction with patch 1.10.0 on January 13. At the time, the Swedish developer said the adjustment was intended to prevent abuse of macros. Third-party software that acts as a driver for input devices.
A previous update had Embark saying that Kettle's native fire rate was only “realistically accessible” through macro use, as average players couldn't click fast enough to achieve it. As such, the rate was reduced to improve the game environment. It remains unclear whether this second Shadow nerf reflects the same logic. Regardless, Kettle's rate of fire now stands at 360 rounds per minute, roughly half of its original 600 ROF.
The 1.13.0 patch notes mention the addition of two new Epic Augments to the game, but without elaborating. According to recent player reports, these vaguely documented augments are primarily obtainable through Blueprints. One of them is Looting MK. 3 Safekeeper, which adds a secure pocket that can store any item. Another is the Tactical Mk. 3 Revive, which restores one HP every five seconds but pauses for 30 seconds after the player takes damage. It has an integrated defib slot and is only compatible with light shields.
- issued
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October 30, 2025
- ESRB
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Juvenile / violence, blood