Arc Raiders Update Shrouded Sky: arc raiders update shrouded sky Patch Notes 1.17.0 and New Threats
This arc raiders update shrouded sky combines weather-driven map conditions with weapon balance work and new Arc threats. Patch Notes 1. 17. 0 details violent hurricanes topside, two new Arc types in the Rust Belt, and multiple weapon and cosmetic changes.
Overview and hurricane conditions
Violent hurricanes are sweeping topside, forcing new strategies for low-visibility combat, powerful gales, and hurtling debris. Scouts have spotted two new ARC types in the Rust Belt; the developers advise caution while the storm runs its course, and note that those who know how to read the weather will find opportunity in the chaos. The Shrouded Sky update will add a new map condition — the hurricane — and a new project that sees players working with Shani to collect materials that will allow her to build a better weather-monitoring system.
New Arc threats: Firefly
One of the two new Arc threats is the Firefly. The Firefly is effectively a drone with flamethrower capabilities, which Embark Studios describes as "a floating nightmare. " The Firefly will burn Raiders "to a crisp" if they fail to find cover or other means to escape its jet of flames.
New Arc threats: The Comet
The other new threat is The Comet. The Comet is a ground-bound sphere that patrols the surface of the Rust Belt, and will lock onto Raiders who venture too close. Once it's locked-on to a target, it will explode, causing serious damage.
Weapon input and balance changes
The notes trace a sequence of weapon changes: in 1. 13 an update shipped that included an optimization fix for weapons, but that had the unforeseen consequence of lowering the total fire-rate of semi-automatic weapons. In 1. 13. 1 the team reverted that fix, but something else made it into the update that shouldn't have. Many players reported a "shadow buff" to weapons; investigation found that 1. 13. 1 had inadvertently impacted weapon input buffers. Where players previously would have to time inputs to a weapon's intended cadence to reach full potential, they could instead spam-click the button, effectively bypassing the skill requirement to learn cadence.
To address this, developers added more levers to control the weapon input buffering window on a gun-to-gun basis and adjusted semi-automatic weapons accordingly. The weapons should now still be more responsive to fire when spam-clicking, but players who choose to pace their shots will see better results.
Tier balance and named weapons
The team is also rebalancing the relationship between low tier and high tier weapons after concerns that some low tier weapons outperform higher tier weapons at significantly reduced cost. They aim to shift that balance while preserving some ability for skilled players to "punch above your weight. " As an opening move they are reducing the overall TTK of the Stitcher and Kettle, and increasing the maneuverability of the Aphelion and Jupiter. They are also taking a second stab at the Venator, which still seems to be dominating a lot of PvP encounters; the notes reference the last nerfs to the Venator in 1. 3. 0 and say the team has kept an eye on their data to—unclear in the provided context.
Developer notes on specific weapons are detailed. The Stitcher is described as a close quarter weapon that rewards thoughtful positioning, but its fast TTK can lead to situations where players are ambushed and killed before they have much time to react. High headshot damage is cited as a large contributor to that problem. The TTK is often fine when the weapon is aimed at the center of mass, but close-range headshot-heavy engagements produce TTK numbers much faster than other weapons; changes aim to bring headshot TTK closer to body shot TTK by reducing full-spray accuracy and reducing the headshot multiplier.
The Kettle is said to have been intended for medium range, deliberate pacing, but many players have been using it in close quarters and effectively turning it into an SMG. The developers want to distinguish it from the Stitcher while keeping its versatility: they are reducing base damage to bring TTK in line but keeping a high headshot multiplier to encourage headshots.
Surgeon Raider Deck and cosmetics
A new free Raider Deck called The Surgeon is introduced. The Surgeon cosmetic is gradually unlocked by completing the Raider Deck, and "whether you want to be Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde is up to you. " "Scrub up, take your oath, and head topside to heal… or wreak havoc, " reads the developer note. Once Shrouded Sky goes live, players will also gain access to facial hair cosmetics: the Stubble cosmetic will be instantly available to all players once the update has been released, while the Full Beard is an unlockable feature of the Surgeon Raider Deck. Two additional styles — the Stubble Beard and Thick Moustache — will be available to purchase the in-game store starting Feb. 24. "Don't worry if it feels weird at first… it grows on you, " Embark joked in the Shrouded Sky blog post.
Shrouded Sky goes live Feb. 24, and the notes say all of these updates will become available tomorrow the Shrouded Sky update patch in Arc Raiders. "We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful. "
Short and stout, this is my handle, this is my spout.
Patch Notes 1. 17. 0 bundle this mix of weather, new Arc threats, weapon adjustments, a Surgeon Raider Deck, facial hair cosmetics, and the Shani project into a single update scheduled for Feb. 24.
