Arc Raiders Shrouded Sky Patch Notes: Shrouded Sky 1.17.0 Update Explained
arc raiders shrouded sky patch notes outline a 1. 17. 0 update that responds to violent hurricanes topside, new ARC threats in the Rust Belt, and a set of weapon balance and input-buffer fixes. The developer notes describe environmental hazards, weapon tuning dating back to 1. 13 and 1. 13. 1, and specific adjustments to named weapons.
Arc Raiders Shrouded Sky Patch Notes Summary
The 1. 17. 0 patch, listed as Shrouded Sky - Patch Notes 1. 17. 0, opens by describing violent hurricanes sweeping topside that create low-visibility combat, powerful gales, and hurtling debris. Scouts have spotted two new ARC types in the Rust Belt; the notes advise caution while the storm runs its course, but add that those who know how to read the weather will find opportunity in the chaos.
Storms and Rust Belt Threats
The update frames gameplay changes around environmental risk: violent hurricanes topside produce low-visibility combat, powerful gales, and hurtling debris. Scouts have spotted two new ARC types in the Rust Belt. The guidance in the notes is plain: take caution while the storm runs its course, and players who can read the weather may find opportunities amid the chaos.
Weapon Input Buffer Fixes
The patch addresses a multi-step weapon tuning history. In 1. 13 the team shipped an optimization fix for weapons that had the unforeseen consequence of lowering the total fire-rate of semi-automatic weapons. In 1. 13. 1 that fix was reverted, but the 1. 13. 1 update introduced an unintended side effect: 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, the altered buffers allowed players to spam-click the button and effectively bypass the skill requirement to learn a weapon's cadence. To strike a middle ground between responsiveness and skill expression, 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 stated aim is that weapons remain responsive when spam-clicking, but players who choose to pace their shots will see better results.
Tier Balance and TTK Changes
The notes also tackle perceived imbalance between low tier and high tier weapons. Developers acknowledged concerns that some low tier weapons outperform higher tier weapons at significantly reduced cost. To shift that balance, the team is reducing the overall time-to-kill (TTK) of the Stitcher and Kettle, and increasing the maneuverability of the Aphelion and Jupiter. The Venator is receiving a second pass because it still seems to be dominating many PvP encounters.
Dev Notes on Stitcher and Kettle
Dev notes explain the Stitcher and Kettle adjustments in detail. For the Stitcher: it has played its role as a close-quarter weapon that rewards thoughtful positioning, but its fast TTK can create 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 acceptable when aimed at the center of mass, close-range engagements that land a majority of shots to the head produce TTK numbers much faster than other weapons. The changes aim to bring headshot TTK closer to body-shot TTK by reducing the Stitcher's full-spray accuracy and reducing its headshot multiplier.
For the Kettle: the weapon has been described as "in a bit of a weird place. " Its high damage output was intended for medium-range, deliberate use, but many players are using it in close quarters, effectively turning it into an SMG. The team wants to better distinguish the Kettle from the Stitcher while preserving its versatility. The planned move is to reduce base damage to bring Kettle TTK more in line, while keeping a high headshot multiplier to encourage headshot play.
Venator and Ongoing Tracking
The notes say the developers are taking "a second stab" at the Venator because it continues to dominate PvP. They note that 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.
Aside: A Brief, Unrelated Line
The provided context also contains a short, unrelated entry titled "IGN Error 418 - I am a teapot" followed by the verse: "Short and stout, this is my handle, this is my spout. "
Closing: The 1. 17. 0 Shrouded Sky patch frames environmental hazards and weapon tuning as linked priorities — from violent hurricanes topside and two new ARC types in the Rust Belt to input-buffer and balance adjustments for Stitcher, Kettle, Aphelion, Jupiter, and Venator — with specific changes described to address responsiveness, TTK, and weapon roles.
