Arc Raiders Shrouded Sky Goes Live Feb. 24 With Firefly, Comet and Major Weapon Adjustments
Arc Raiders Shrouded Sky arrives Feb. 24, bringing two new ARC threats, a hurricane map condition and a free Raider Deck that unlocks facial-hair cosmetics. The patch matters now because it bundles combat-facing enemy additions and targeted weapon changes that respond to issues traced back to earlier 1. 13. x updates.
Arc Raiders Shrouded Sky: Firefly and Comet threaten the Rust Belt
The Shrouded Sky update introduces two new ARC types into the Rust Belt: the airborne Firefly and the ground-bound Comet. The Firefly is described by the developer as "a floating nightmare" — a drone equipped with flamethrower capabilities that will burn Raiders "to a crisp" if they fail to find cover or escape its jet of flames. The Comet operates as a spherical ground unit that patrols surface areas of the Rust Belt, locking onto Raiders who venture too close and exploding to cause serious damage.
Hurricane map condition and Shani project reshape topside play
Violent hurricanes will now sweep topside, producing low-visibility combat, powerful gales and hurtling debris that demand new strategies. Scouts have spotted the two new ARC types in the Rust Belt, and the update adds a project in which players work with Shani to collect materials for a better weather-monitoring system. The combination of the hurricane condition and the Shani project is designed to push players to adapt how they read the weather and choose engagements.
Surgeon Raider Deck and facial hair arrive, with in-game purchases
Players gain access to a free Raider Deck called the Surgeon; the Surgeon cosmetic is gradually unlocked by completing that deck, letting players choose a more clinical appearance — "whether you want to be Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde is up to you. " Cosmetic options tied to the update include an instantly available Stubble for all players and a Full Beard that is unlockable through the Surgeon Raider Deck. Two additional styles, Stubble Beard and Thick Moustache, will be available to purchase in the in-game store starting Feb. 24. The developer even quipped that players should not worry if it feels odd at first: "Don't worry if it feels weird at first… it grows on you. "
Weapon changes trace back to 1. 13 and 1. 13. 1 input-buffer issues
The release also carries an extensive set of weapon adjustments tied to a sequence of fixes beginning with update 1. 13. An optimization in 1. 13 inadvertently lowered the fire-rate of semi-automatic weapons; 1. 13. 1 reverted that fix but introduced an unintended change to weapon input buffers. The 1. 13. 1 change created what the developer described as a "shadow buff, " enabling players to spam-click to bypass the timing previously required to reach a weapon's full potential. To address this, the team added more levers to control the input buffering window on a gun-to-gun basis and adjusted semi-automatic weapons so spam-clicking remains more responsive while players who pace their shots will see better results.
Stitcher, Kettle, Aphelion, Jupiter and the Venator balance moves
In pursuit of a clearer separation between low-tier and high-tier weapons, the patch targets several named armaments. The team says it is reducing the overall TTK of the Stitcher and Kettle, increasing the maneuverability of the Aphelion and Jupiter, and is "taking a second stab at the Venator, " noting engagement with its data since earlier nerfs. Dev notes explain the Stitcher has had very fast headshot TTK in close quarters; to address ambush scenarios the update reduces the weapon's full-spray accuracy and lowers the headshot multiplier to bring headshot TTK closer to body-shot TTK. The Kettle will receive reduced base damage to bring its TTK more in line with expectations while retaining a high headshot multiplier to encourage precision. As the developer put it in patch commentary: "Since the last nerfs to the Venator in 1. 3. 0, we've kept an eye on our data to" — an unfinished fragment preserved in dev communication, indicating continued monitoring of that weapon's performance.
What makes this notable is the patch's dual focus: it adds new, immediate combat threats that change how topside encounters must be approached while simultaneously recalibrating weapon mechanics that shape core player-versus-player interactions. The timing matters because the new ARC threats and the hurricane condition alter encounter dynamics precisely as the weapon input-buffer adjustments and TTK tweaks take effect.
An unrelated bit of site content appears alongside the update: a short, playful line reading "Short and stout, this is my handle, this is my spout, " headlined under an Error 418 notice. The update and its cosmetic, gameplay and balance elements will become available tomorrow through the Shrouded Sky update patch.
