Arc Raiders Shrouded Sky Patch Notes — arc raiders shrouded sky patch notes: Shrouded Sky - Patch Notes 1.17.0
Arc Raiders Shrouded Sky patch notes arrive with a 1. 17. 0 update that centers on violent hurricanes topside, two new ARC types in the Rust Belt, and a set of weapon fixes and balance changes tracing back to 1. 13 and 1. 13. 1. The update also ties into a revealed pair of new Arc threats called the Firefly and the Comet.
Storms, debris and the Rust Belt
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; developers advise caution while the storm runs its course, but note that those who know how to read the weather will find opportunity in the chaos. The Shrouded Sky material also notes a hurricane map condition that will push players around, give bursts of speed, and limit the viability of shields.
Weapon input buffers and 1. 13 history
The notes trace a chain of changes back to 1. 13, when an optimization fix for weapons had the unforeseen consequence of lowering the total fire-rate of semi-automatic weapons. In 1. 13. 1 that fix was reverted, but an additional issue 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 had to time inputs to a weapon's intended cadence to reach full potential, 1. 13. 1 allowed players to spam-click the fire button and effectively bypass the skill requirement to learn a weapon's cadence. Developers said they want to retain some skill expression while restoring responsiveness. To land between those goals they added more levers to control the weapon input buffering window on a gun-to-gun basis and adjusted semi-automatic weapons accordingly. The result, per the notes, is weapons that should still be more responsive when spam-clicking, while players who choose to pace their shots will see better results.
Tier balance and TTK changes
Developers also addressed balance between low tier and high tier weapons after feedback that some low tier weapons were outperforming higher tier weapons at significantly reduced cost. The team is aiming to shift that balance while preserving some flexibility for skilled players to "punch above your weight. " Changes begin with reducing the overall time-to-kill of the Stitcher and Kettle, and increasing the maneuverability of the Aphelion and Jupiter. The team is also taking a second stab at the Venator, which still seems to be dominating many PvP encounters.
Stitcher and Kettle tuning
Dev notes say the Stitcher has served as a close-quarters 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. The high headshot damage is a large contributor to that problem. While TTK is often fine when the weapon is aimed at the center of mass, close-range headshot-focused engagements produce TTK numbers much faster than other weapons. Changes aim to bring headshot TTK closer to body-shot TTK by reducing the Stitcher's full-spray accuracy and reducing its headshot multiplier.
The Kettle has been described as "in a bit of a weird place. " Its high damage output was intended for medium range and a more deliberate pace, but many players have been using it in close quarters and effectively turning it into an SMG. The team wants to distinguish the Kettle from the Stitcher while retaining versatility: base damage will be reduced to bring its TTK in line, but the high headshot multiplier is being kept to encourage players to go for headshots.
Venator and an unfinished note
Developers say that since the last nerfs to the Venator in 1. 3. 0 they've kept an eye on the data to—unclear in the provided context.
Firefly, Comet and new Arc threats
Separate coverage tied to the Shrouded Sky rollout says the update, due out tomorrow, includes two new robo threats rather than one: the Firefly and the Comet. Embark expanded on the teaser in a dedicated Shrouded Sky blog post and released a supplemental trailer today. The Firefly is described as a "floating nightmare: an armored flying machine that emits a jet of flame, burning your Raider to a crisp unless you can move quickly or find cover. " Observers note the Firefly may resemble existing flying Arc types; it is compared to the Wasp and the Hornet, and seems to have Hornet-level armor plating on the front of its rotors.
The Comet, once suspected by some to be a snake-like Arc, is described as an outdoor version of the Pop: a "spherical Arc machine that calmly patrols the surface" and will "lock on with a frightening focus before exploding with a seismic boom. " One commentator wrote that Pops are easy to deal with in Arc Raiders and said they are not immediately intimidated by the Comet. The same commentary also noted that a Comet is not shown attacking in the trailer.
Additionally, another free Raider Deck is on the way, too.
An unrelated excerpt present in the provided context reads: "Short and stout, this is my handle, this is my spout. "
Closing: The 1. 17. 0 Shrouded Sky patch bundles storm-driven map conditions, weapon input buffering fixes that trace back to 1. 13 and 1. 13. 1, targeted balance work on Stitcher, Kettle, Aphelion, Jupiter and Venator, and the arrival of two new Arc threats, Firefly and Comet, with a supplemental trailer released today and the update due out tomorrow.
