Embark’s Live Update 1.29 for ARC Raiders brings new content while directly addressing recent player concerns. You get a new weapon, the Rascal, a compact launcher designed to counter ARC threats as an alternative to heavier options, though it trades raw power for slower reloads and less consistent handling.
The update also reduces the impact of recent weapon durability penalties after players reported that gear was breaking too quickly. You will see longer lifespans for lower-tier weapons, with notable boosts to specific models. At the same time, Embark begins rolling out Denuvo Anti-Cheat to curb cheating, starting with a limited deployment before expanding access more broadly.
ARC Raiders Update 1.29.0 Patch Notes
What’s Included in This Update?
Update 1.29.0 adds a new high-level trader, a fresh grenade launcher, expanded weapon mod options, and a wide range of balance adjustments.
You also see durability tuning, AI behavior improvements, social tools, anti-cheat updates, and dozens of fixes across gameplay, maps, and UI systems.
Nomadic Envoy Trader
Ermal, a Nomadic Envoy, has arrived in Speranza with limited-time Topside offers.
If you reach Level 25, you can trade rare ARC materials and surplus high-tier weapons for:
- Temporary Stash expansions (reset after each Expedition)
- Expedition Vault access (store up to 5 protected items per run)
- Cosmetics
- Blueprints
- Raider Tokens
- Progression and project-related items
Ermal rotates his inventory weekly. If you miss an item, it may return in a future rotation.
During the first week, you can access one Stash expansion and five Vault slots while pricing and balance receive close monitoring.
The Rascal Grenade Launcher
Tian Wen introduces The Rascal, a new grenade launcher built to handle armored ARC enemies.
This weapon expands your explosive options and pairs well with coordinated squad pushes against heavy targets.
The update also expands the Extended Barrel mod line and prepares new cosmetic sets, including the Sandveil Set, Sideburns facial hair, and the Sheath Set arriving June 2.
Key Update Points
This patch addresses several high-impact issues and systems:
- Fixed player teleportation when standing on destroyed ARC parts
- Reduced Photoelectric Cloak power drain from 10/s to 5/s
- Adjusted weapon durability on underperforming weapons
- Improved Queen and Matriarch navigation to reduce unfair knockback
- Added a block option after reporting players
- Rolled out updated anti-cheat measures
These changes target fairness, clarity, and long-term balance.
Balance Adjustments
ARC
ARC detection behavior now reacts more precisely to positioning.
Enemies spot you more easily when you stand near the edge of bushes or smoke. If you position yourself deeper inside foliage or concealment, you remain harder to detect.
ARC also respond more accurately to sound. They detect audio cues more effectively in open outdoor spaces but react less aggressively to sounds indoors or through solid structures.
Rocketeer Update
When Rocketeers fire multiple missiles, the projectiles now spread across a wider area. This reduces situations where several rockets land in the exact same spot.
Gameplay
Photoelectric Cloak now consumes 5 energy per second instead of 10.
This change increases uptime and expands stealth-oriented play without removing counterplay.
Weapons
Bettina
| Stat | Previous | New |
|---|---|---|
| Base Fire Rate | 235 | 250 |
The increased fire rate improves responsiveness and sustained output.
Durability Revisions
Several weapons that degraded too quickly now last longer. These adjustments bring them closer in line with overall durability expectations.
You can expect continued monitoring and tuning if additional outliers appear.
Weapon Modifications
Weapon mods now influence aim-down-sights transition speed for scoped weapons.
Extended Barrel Rework
- Bullet velocity bonus increased from 25% to 30%
- Damage falloff distance increased by 15%
- Renamed top tier to Extended Barrel III
- Added new visual model
- Added two additional tiers:
- Extended Barrel I
- Extended Barrel II
This tiered structure gives you more progression flexibility when optimizing builds.
Content Updates and Fixes
ARC
ARC Turbine Improvements
- Fixed leg invisibility at certain angles
- Improved landing angle selection
- Reduced visual clipping on landing
- Increased burn risk if you remain inside the Turbine
These updates improve visual clarity and mechanical consistency.
Animation
Cloth physics now behave more naturally across outfits.
Developers fixed snapping issues on some ARC weapon rotations and corrected item clipping when picking up objects while holding gadgets.
The Metal Detector inspect animation now plays correctly.
Audio
Voice communication stability improved, especially when accessing console UI on PS5 and Xbox systems.
Cosmetics
Character texture settings now align more consistently across outfits. This improves performance and visual cohesion.
New cosmetic additions include:
- Sandveil Set
- Sideburns facial hair
- Sheath Set (available June 2)
Gameplay
You no longer suffer stun effects while entering a Raider Hatch. This ensures a consistent return to Speranza.
Downed players can no longer move outside intended map boundaries.
Weapon fire inputs now buffer properly during actions like dodge rolls and climbing.
General Fixes
- Fixed teleporting when standing on destroyed ARC components
- Resolved mid-air disconnect floating issue
- Corrected Expedition timer display duration
These fixes address immersion-breaking problems.
Items
Agave Juice now automatically moves into Quick Use slots when available instead of defaulting to your Backpack.
Emptying your Backpack no longer removes Agave Juice unintentionally.
The sell price for the free loadout Augment increased:
| Item | Old Price | New Price |
|---|---|---|
| Free Loadout Augment | 100 | 660 |
Maps
General Map Fixes
- Corrected low-resolution textures and misplaced decals
- Fixed shading issues on vent materials
- Resolved balcony clipping into a hotel doorway
- Improved rope visuals and physics
- Fixed floating objects
- Corrected collision gaps, including Room 207
Stella Montis
- Refined environmental textures
- Fixed collision inconsistencies
These changes improve navigation reliability and visual clarity.
Social Features
After reporting a player, you can now block them directly.
End-of-Round Updates
- You now see all squad members at the end of a round, regardless of extraction outcome
- Selecting a squadmate name opens options to report, mute, or block
- You can leave the squad immediately during the tunnel sequence
These adjustments streamline squad management and post-match interaction.
Stability & Performance
The update delivers broader performance improvements and backend stability refinements.
Developers also fixed an issue that caused loading screens to stall indefinitely.
User Interface
Crash Mat tooltips now clearly display increased safe fall height values.
Deployable previews show obstructed placement areas using a striped overlay, helping you position equipment more accurately.
Pinging an ARC Turbine during its map entry no longer causes erratic marker behavior.
Utility Improvements
- Removed unintended delay after cancelling a Trigger Grenade throw
- Fixed grenade cancellation failures
- Cancelling Pulse Mine or Gas Mine deployment no longer consumes the item
- Restored missing “Use Zipline” prompt at close range
- Prevented unintended vault triggers while moving upward or using the Powered Descender
- Fixed Surge Coil so it properly damages teammates of the deploying player
These adjustments improve consistency and reduce unintended item loss during high-pressure encounters.
