Arc Raiders Shrouded Sky Patch Notes: 1.17.0 Brings Hurricanes, Two New ARC Types and Weapon Rebalancing
The arc raiders shrouded sky patch notes for update 1. 17. 0 introduce violent topside hurricanes, two new ARC types in the Rust Belt, and a suite of weapon adjustments that alter input buffering and time-to-kill on several guns. These changes matter now because they change visibility and movement on maps while reshaping weapon performance across tiers immediately.
Arc Raiders Shrouded Sky Patch Notes — Weapon Input Buffering
Developers identified a cascade of issues beginning with an optimization in version 1. 13 that unintentionally lowered the total fire-rate of semi-automatic weapons. The follow-up 1. 13. 1 update reverted that optimization but introduced a separate problem: an unintended change to weapon input buffers. The altered buffers produced what players described as a "shadow buff"—where spam-clicking could bypass the intended cadence of a gun and remove a skill requirement to time shots.
In response, the team added more levers to control the weapon input buffering window on a gun-to-gun basis and adjusted semi-automatic weapons accordingly. The result: weapons should remain responsive to rapid inputs, but players who pace their shots will now see better results. The sequence—1. 13 optimization, 1. 13. 1 reversion, and the subsequent buffer fix—explains why responsiveness and perceived balance shifted across releases.
Hurricane conditions and two new ARC types in the Rust Belt
Update 1. 17. 0 brings violent hurricanes sweeping topside, with powerful gales, low-visibility combat and hurtling debris changing map conditions. Scouts have spotted two new ARC types in the Rust Belt; players are advised to exercise caution while the storm runs its course. The notes also point out that those who can "read the weather" may find opportunities in the chaos, indicating environmental tactics will be important under the new hurricane conditions.
Stitcher and Kettle: time-to-kill reductions and accuracy tweaks
The developers are adjusting balance between low-tier and high-tier weapons after feedback that some lower-cost guns outperformed more expensive options. Concretely, the patch reduces the overall time-to-kill (TTK) dynamics tied to two commonly contested weapons: the Stitcher and the Kettle. For the Stitcher, designers will reduce full-spray accuracy and lower the headshot multiplier to bring headshot TTK closer to body-shot TTK; the dev note explains the weapon's fast TTK at close range has led to situations where targets are ambushed and killed with little reaction time.
For the Kettle, the change is a reduction in base damage to curb close-quarters SMG-like behavior, while intentionally retaining a high headshot multiplier to reward precision. The stated aim is to distinguish the Kettle from the Stitcher but preserve the versatility players enjoy.
Aphelion, Jupiter maneuverability and the Venator revisit
The update increases the maneuverability of the Aphelion and Jupiter to shift handling characteristics upward for those platforms. The Venator remains a focal point: developers note that it still dominates many PvP encounters and that this patch represents "a second stab" at balancing the weapon. A dev note references prior nerfs applied in 1. 3. 0 and says, "Since the last nerfs to the Venator in 1. 3. 0, we've kept an eye on our data to"—the remainder of that explanation is unclear in the provided context.
Balance philosophy and immediate player impact
The patch frames its approach as trying to retain skill expression while improving responsiveness. Because earlier changes reduced semi-automatic fire-rate and later updates altered input buffering, the net effect compelled designers to add per-gun buffering levers and targeted TTK adjustments. The cause-effect chain—from 1. 13 optimization to 1. 13. 1 buffer shift to 1. 17. 0 corrections—clarifies why this update mixes environmental changes with precise weapon tuning.
What makes this notable is the simultaneous pressure on two fronts: environmental conditions that affect whole-match tactics, and weapon-level fixes that reshape individual engagements. Players should expect different pacing in firefights and altered viability for low-tier picks that once overperformed.
Server-side quirk: Error 418 — I am a teapot
Alongside technical notes, a separate server message reads "Error 418 - I am a teapot" and includes the line, "Short and stout, this is my handle, this is my spout. " The meaning or scope of that message is unclear in the provided context, but it appears as an ancillary server response referenced in the same set of updates.
Players can anticipate the 1. 17. 0 hurricane conditions, two new ARC types in the Rust Belt, revised input buffering, lower TTK for Stitcher and Kettle, increased maneuverability for Aphelion and Jupiter, and continued balancing work on the Venator as the immediate outcomes of these patch notes.
