ARC Raiders version 1.13.0 rolled out on January 27, 2026, across PC and consoles, introducing a new matchmaking option alongside various adjustments to activities, maps, enemies, loot tables, quests, and audio.
While the official patch notes suggested a routine update, players quickly began noticing several gameplay changes that were not documented. These unlisted adjustments have since become the center of a growing community debate.
Unlisted Loot and Interaction Changes
Shortly after the update went live, players reported that looting interactions felt noticeably slower.
Slower hatch and container interactions
- Hatch opening animations now appear to take longer.
- Items inside containers reveal more slowly after searches.
- These delays reportedly persist even when players have skill-tree upgrades that previously improved looting speed.
Apparent rollback from December improvements
In December 2025, ARC Raiders received an update that significantly sped up container searches, which was widely praised by the community. With version 1.13.0, those improvements appear to have been partially or fully reverted, bringing reveal times back close to their earlier baseline.
So far, Embark Studios has not publicly addressed whether this change was intentional. Within the community, speculation ranges from a telemetry-driven balancing rollback to a correction of what may have been an unintended speed increase in earlier builds.
Reports of Shadow Weapon Nerfs
Another major point of contention involves weapon performance changes that were not mentioned in the patch notes.
Affected weapons
Players report reduced fire rates on several popular weapons, including:
- Kettle
- Venator
- Burletta
The Kettle has drawn the most attention, with players estimating its fire rate at roughly 360 rounds per minute, down from an original value near 600 RPM.
This marks the second recent reduction. In patch 1.10.0 earlier this month, Embark confirmed a Kettle adjustment aimed at limiting macro-based exploits. The latest change, however, arrived without any official explanation, leaving players uncertain whether it targets balance, exploits, or overall weapon pacing.
New Epic Augments With Limited Documentation
Version 1.13.0 also introduces new Epic-tier augments, though their functionality has largely been pieced together by players rather than explained clearly in official notes.
Looting Mk.3 Safekeeper
- Adds a safe pocket capable of storing any item.
- Primarily obtained through Blueprints.
- Considered one of the most impactful utility augments added so far.
Tactical Mk.3 Revival
- Restores 1 HP every 5 seconds.
- Healing pauses for 30 seconds after taking damage.
- Includes a Defibrillator slot.
- Restricted to Light shields only.
While these augments add new build possibilities, the lack of detailed explanation has made it difficult for players to fully understand their intended balance role.
Community Reaction and Ongoing Frustration
Individually, none of these changes would likely have caused major backlash. Together, however, they have fueled frustration over transparency.
Players are increasingly concerned about:
- Balance changes occurring without documentation
- Difficulty understanding design intent
- Uncertainty over whether mechanics are bugs or permanent systems
For a game built heavily around risk-reward decisions and precise loadout planning, undocumented changes can significantly impact player trust.
What Comes Next
As of now, Embark Studios has not commented on the unlisted adjustments in version 1.13.0. Whether these changes will be clarified, reverted, or formally acknowledged in a follow-up patch remains to be seen.
Until then, ARC Raiders’ community continues to closely monitor each update — not just for what is announced, but for what quietly changes behind the scenes.
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