You step into ARC Raiders at a pivotal moment as Embark Studios rolls out the Shrouded Sky update across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. This major patch introduces two new ARC enemy types, updates to the Dam Battlegrounds map, and a dynamic Hurricane map condition that reshapes combat encounters.
Shrouded Sky follows the earlier Headwinds update and continues the studio’s 2026 roadmap with more content planned in the coming months. As you return to the Rust Belt, you face shifting weather systems, balance changes, and fresh challenges that expand the extraction shooter’s evolving battlefield.
ARC Raiders Releases New Shrouded Sky Update
ARC Raiders Update 1.17.0 Patch Notes for February 24
You can now download update 1.17.0 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The February 24 patch introduces a dynamic Hurricane map condition, two new ARC enemies, weapon adjustments, system tweaks, and expanded anti-cheat enforcement.
The storm system changes how you move and fight during Raids. You must adapt your positioning, timing, and route planning as wind and airborne hazards alter standard engagements.
Balance Changes
This patch targets time-to-kill consistency, weapon tier identity, and responsiveness. You will notice tighter control over semi-automatic input timing and clearer distinctions between low-tier and high-tier gear.
Developers adjusted weapon input buffering so you can still fire responsively, but pacing your shots now rewards you more than rapid spamming. This preserves mechanical skill while improving overall feel.
Weapons
Semi-automatic weapons now use refined input buffers. If you spam the trigger, you still fire reliably, but you achieve better efficiency and consistency when you match the weapon’s intended cadence.
Lower-tier weapons no longer outperform higher-tier options as easily at reduced cost. Legendary weapons now feel more distinct in PvP scenarios.
Stitcher
You will see a slower close-range kill speed, especially when aiming for the head.
- Headshot multiplier reduced: 2.5 → 1.75
- Base damage reduced: 7 → 6.5
- Per-shot dispersion increased: ~50% faster bloom
These changes reduce extreme burst lethality during ambushes and narrow the gap between body-shot and headshot time-to-kill.
Kettle
You now deal less base damage, which shifts the weapon away from aggressive close-quarters dominance.
- Base damage reduced: 10 → 8.5
The headshot multiplier remains high, encouraging deliberate aim rather than spray tactics.
Venator
You experience a lower overall damage ceiling in PvP.
- Headshot multiplier reduced: 2.5 → 2
- Base damage reduced: 9 → 8
The adjustment reins in its performance while preserving its high-tier status.
Jupiter (Legendary)
You gain better target visibility and faster weapon handling.
- ADS magnification increased: ~1.9x → ~2.2x
- Equip time reduced: 1.2s → 1.05s
- Unequip time reduced: 0.9s → 0.75s
You can now transition between shots and secondary weapons more efficiently.
Aphelion (Legendary)
You handle this weapon more fluidly in PvP.
- Reload time reduced: 4.5s → 3.5s
- Time between shots reduced: 0.9s → 0.7s
- Vertical recoil reduced: ~50%
- ADS settle speed improved: ~35%
These changes increase responsiveness and reduce downtime between engagements.
Item and Crafting
You can now access the Energy Clip by default at the Workbench. This expands early crafting flexibility.
Several item values and crafting costs have been adjusted. Recycling outputs scale appropriately with the new pricing structure, aligning resource investment with item power and rarity.
Content and Bug Fixes
You encounter the new Hurricane map condition, which introduces directional wind forces and airborne debris. Moving with the wind increases your speed, while pushing against it slows you down.
Flying debris can damage your shields if it hits you. You must monitor your surroundings and use terrain for protection.
Two new ARC enemies now patrol the surface:
- Comet: A spherical unit that locks onto you at close range and detonates with a powerful blast.
- Firefly: An armored, hovering unit that emits a sustained flame jet once it detects you.
Both enemies change how you approach open terrain and vertical positioning.
Achievements
You can track new or adjusted achievement conditions tied to updated content. Progress now reflects recent balance and gameplay changes more accurately.
Animation
You see smoother transitions when equipping and unequipping adjusted weapons. Reduced handling times for specific legendary weapons align their animation timing with updated stats.
General animation polish improves visual consistency during combat and traversal.
ARC
You now face two additional ARC threats in surface encounters.
Comet units patrol calmly until they detect you, then close distance and explode. You must maintain spacing and avoid tunnel vision in close quarters.
Firefly units hover and apply flame pressure from mid-range. Their armor increases durability, forcing you to commit to cover or coordinated fire.
Audio
You hear updated combat cues tied to new enemies and storm conditions. Wind intensity and environmental effects now better communicate directional force and hazard presence.
Enemy detection and threat states provide clearer feedback during encounters.
Cosmetics
The update introduces new cosmetic progression tied to ongoing content releases. You can unlock themed rewards through structured progression systems.
Certain cosmetic items now display more consistently across environments and lighting conditions.
Gameplay
The Hurricane condition reshapes raid flow. You must account for wind direction when rotating between objectives or extracting.
Environmental hazards add passive risk to exposed movement. Combat near open ground becomes more situational and less predictable.
Weapon pacing now influences duel outcomes more directly. If you control your cadence, you gain measurable performance benefits.
General
You experience stability improvements across all platforms. Backend systems now better support enforcement and progression tracking.
Performance consistency improves in large firefights and dynamic weather scenarios.
Maps
The Dam battleground reflects environmental adjustments connected to the storm system. Weather effects alter visibility and traversal routes during Hurricane conditions.
You must reassess familiar paths when wind and debris activate.
Movement
Directional wind affects your speed:
| Wind Direction | Movement Effect |
|---|---|
| With the wind | Increased speed |
| Against wind | Reduced speed |
You must plan stamina usage and route timing carefully, especially during extraction.
Progression
Progression systems continue to expand through structured reward tracks. You unlock cosmetics and other items by completing in-game objectives and earning currency through active play.
Balance adjustments ensure higher-tier weapons justify their acquisition cost.
Quests
Quest tracking reflects updated enemy types and map conditions. You may encounter objectives that involve new ARC units or storm-affected zones.
Completion tracking now aligns more reliably with match outcomes.
Social
You experience improved enforcement transparency. The studio clarified that cheat detection operates across multiple layers, including behavioral analysis and data-driven systems.
Severe violations now result in immediate permanent bans, while lesser infractions may trigger temporary suspensions.
UI
You see clearer feedback when interacting with crafting systems and weapon stats. Adjusted weapon values now display accurately in menus.
Storm-related indicators communicate environmental effects more clearly during active matches.
Utility
System-level improvements enhance detection and response to exploitative behavior. You benefit from tighter rule enforcement and refined monitoring tools.
Infrastructure updates support evolving anti-cheat defenses.
VFX
You observe intensified wind and debris effects during Hurricane conditions. Visual cues reinforce movement penalties and hazard zones.
Explosive effects for the Comet and flame output from the Firefly deliver clearer threat visibility.
Known Issues
You may encounter minor inconsistencies as the new weather system interacts with certain terrain features. Developers continue to monitor reports related to performance fluctuations during extreme storm states.
Ongoing data collection will guide further tuning.
Anti-Cheat
The anti-cheat system now applies stricter enforcement tiers. Detection operates through layered checks, including direct validation and behavioral pattern analysis.
Serious offenses trigger permanent bans immediately. Lesser violations can still result in temporary suspensions, depending on severity.
You can expect continued updates as enforcement rules evolve.
