Arc Raiders Update: Shrouded Sky patch 1.17.0 adds hurricanes, flamethrower drone and weapon tuning

The arc raiders update Shrouded Sky (patch 1. 17. 0) goes live Feb. 24 and brings violent topside hurricanes, two new Arc threats and a suite of weapon fixes and balance adjustments. The combination of new map conditions, new Arc types and targeted weapon tuning is positioned to change both PvE and PvP play immediately.

Arc Raiders Update: Shrouded Sky brings hurricane conditions and Rust Belt danger

Patch 1. 17. 0, billed as the Shrouded Sky update, adds a new map condition: violent hurricanes sweeping topside. Those hurricanes create low-visibility combat, powerful gales and hurtling debris that force new strategies for players operating on the surface. Scouts have spotted two new ARC types in the Rust Belt, and the update advises caution while the storm runs its course, though it notes that players who can read the weather will find opportunity in the chaos.

Two new Arc threats: the Firefly and the Comet

The update introduces two named threats for Raiders to contend with: The Firefly and The Comet. The Firefly is effectively a drone with flamethrower capabilities; the developer described it as "a floating nightmare. " It will burn Raiders "to a crisp" if they fail to find cover or other means to escape its jet of flames. The Comet is a ground-bound sphere that patrols the surface of the Rust Belt, locks onto Raiders who venture too close and, once locked-on, explodes, causing serious damage.

Weapon input-buffer fixes after the 1. 13 and 1. 13. 1 changes

The patch notes trace a recent sequence of weapon changes: in 1. 13 an optimization fix unintentionally lowered the total fire-rate of semi-automatic weapons; 1. 13. 1 reverted that fix but introduced an unintended change. Many players reported a "shadow buff" to weapons, and investigation found that 1. 13. 1 had inadvertently impacted weapon input buffers. Where players previously had to time inputs to a weapon's cadence, they could now spam-click the button and bypass that skill requirement. 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 so they remain more responsive to spam-clicking while rewarding players who pace their shots.

Targeted balance: Stitcher, Kettle, Aphelion, Jupiter and the Venator

Developers are also rebalancing perceived disparities between low-tier and high-tier weapons. The plan begins by reducing the overall TTK of the Stitcher and Kettle, and increasing the maneuverability of the Aphelion and Jupiter. The Venator is being revisited after previous nerfs: "Since the last nerfs to the Venator in 1. 3. 0, we've kept an eye on our data to" — unclear in the provided context what follows that sentence.

Dev notes elaborate on specific weapons. The Stitcher has been treated as a close-quarters weapon that rewards thoughtful positioning, but its fast TTK and high headshot damage can cause ambush kills before targets have time to react. While TTK is often acceptable when aiming at center mass, landing a majority of shots to the head produced TTK far faster than other weapons; the changes reduce full-spray accuracy and the headshot multiplier to bring headshot TTK closer to body-shot TTK. The Kettle, intended as a high-damage, medium-range tool used more deliberately, has been appearing in close quarters like an SMG; base damage will be reduced to bring its TTK more in line, while retaining a high headshot multiplier to encourage players to aim for headshots.

New Raider Deck, cosmetics, Shani project and a bit of levity

The update adds a free Raider Deck called The Surgeon. The Surgeon cosmetic is gradually unlocked by completing the Raider Deck, and the update materials put the choice bluntly: 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 event copy. A new project will see players working with Shani to collect materials that will allow her to build a better weather-monitoring system.

The update also introduces facial hair customization. The Stubble cosmetic will be instantly available to all players once the update is released; the Full Beard is an unlockable feature of The Surgeon Raider Deck. Two additional styles — the Stubble Beard and the Thick Moustache — will be purchasable in the in-game store starting Feb. 24. The update copy even jokes: "Don't worry if it feels weird at first… it grows on you. " All of these updates will become available Feb. 24 the Shrouded Sky update patch in Arc Raiders.

Error 418 and a short teapot verse tucked into the materials

Among the collected snippets of update text is an odd, standalone line: "Short and stout, this is my handle, this is my spout. "