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Arc Raiders Update 1.17.0 is here, and if you’ve been dominating PvP lobbies with the Stitcher or Venator, you’re going to feel this one. Embark Studios has rolled out the Shrouded Sky update with sweeping weapon nerfs, tougher crafting requirements, anti-cheat changes, and a brand-new hurricane map condition that completely changes how you approach a run in the Rust Belt.

This isn’t a small balance tweak. Version 1.17.0 marks one of the biggest updates yet for Arc Raiders in 2026, and it pushes both PvP and PvE players to rethink their loadouts, strategies, and even how they read the weather.

Shrouded Sky Introduces Hurricanes And New Arc Threats

The headline feature of Arc Raiders Update 1.17.0 is the Shrouded Sky content drop. Violent hurricanes now sweep across topside areas, creating low-visibility combat scenarios, powerful gales, and flying debris that can disrupt positioning and extraction plans.

Embark has also introduced two new ARC enemy types in the Rust Belt. While full breakdowns of their behaviour are still unfolding in the community, the studio warns that players who can “read the weather” will find opportunity amid the chaos. This suggests the storm systems are more than just visual flair and may affect spawn behaviour, movement, or engagement patterns.

Alongside the hurricanes, the update adds a Weather Monitoring System as a seasonal player project, a free Raider Deck, an Expedition Window, a Dam Battlegrounds map update, and new facial hair customisation options.

Major PvP Weapon Nerfs Hit Stitcher, Kettle And Venator

If you mainly play PvP, Arc Raiders Update 1.17.0 makes its biggest statement through weapon balancing.

The Stitcher, Kettle, and Venator have all received base damage reductions. The Stitcher’s headshot multiplier has been reduced from 2.5 to 1.75, and its base damage drops from 7 to 6.5. On top of that, per-shot dispersion has increased significantly, meaning it blooms faster and loses full-spray accuracy sooner.

The Kettle’s base damage falls from 10 to 8.5. Embark says it wants to differentiate it more clearly from the Stitcher, especially after players began using it like an SMG in close quarters instead of its intended mid-range role.

The Venator, which has consistently topped PvP performance data, sees its headshot multiplier reduced from 2.5 to 2 and its base damage lowered from 9 to 8. Embark has openly acknowledged that the weapon has been dominating PvP encounters and that further adjustments could follow if these changes do not sufficiently rein it in.

Jupiter And Aphelion Receive Buffs

Not everything in Arc Raiders Update 1.17.0 is a nerf. Jupiter and Aphelion both receive meaningful buffs aimed at improving viability.

Jupiter now has improved ADS magnification, increasing from roughly 1.9x to around 2.2x, giving players a clearer view for long-range engagements. Equip time drops from 1.2 seconds to 1.05 seconds, while unequip time is reduced from 0.9 seconds to 0.75 seconds, making weapon swaps less punishing.

Aphelion gets a more dramatic rework. Base reload time drops from 4.5 seconds to 3.5 seconds. Time between shots is reduced from 0.9 seconds to 0.7 seconds. Vertical recoil is cut by roughly 50 percent, and ADS settle speed improves by around 35 percent. Embark describes this as an effort to make the legendary weapon feel less bulky and more nimble in PvP.

Crafting Changes Make High Tier Gear Harder To Farm

PvE players are not walking away untouched in Arc Raiders Update 1.17.0. Several powerful items now require additional ARC resources to craft.

Deadline and Trailblazer both see value and trader price increases, alongside the addition of new ARC parts as crafting requirements. Wolfpack now requires a Rocketeer Driver per craft, a rare resource that many players already struggle to farm consistently. Vita Spray now needs an additional Tick Pod, and Showstopper requires a Hornet Driver and swaps one of its crafting components.

Embark has also reduced ARC part sell value to better reflect their progression importance, meaning dumping excess parts for quick currency is now less rewarding.

For players who rely heavily on Wolfpack’s aerial homing explosives for ARC encounters, this is arguably one of the steepest adjustments in the patch.

Semi Auto Weapon Input Buffer Fix Addressed “Shadow Buff”

One of the more technical changes in Arc Raiders Update 1.17.0 addresses what players had described as a “shadow buff” to semi-automatic weapons.

Embark confirmed that a previous update unintentionally altered weapon input buffers. This allowed players to spam-click and bypass intended cadence timing, effectively removing some of the skill expression involved in pacing shots.

The new system introduces more granular control over input buffering per weapon. Spam-clicking remains responsive, but players who time their shots correctly should now see better overall performance. This strikes a middle ground between responsiveness and mastery.

Feat Changes And Expedition Catch Up System

Progression also receives a shake-up.

Feats can now be rerolled three times per day for free, while PvP Feats have been removed entirely. Several existing Feats have been updated, and new ones have been added.

There is also a new Expedition catch-up system, allowing players to earn missed Skill Points from previous runs. The UI has been updated to better track this progress, reducing confusion around skill progression.

Candleberries in Blue Gate now count toward the Harvest Plants trial, and players who occasionally missed a skill point due to a results screen bug should now see that issue resolved.

Anti Cheat Enforcement Tightened Further

Embark closes out the Arc Raiders Update 1.17.0 patch notes with a firm anti-cheat message.

The studio explains that its detection systems operate on multiple levels, including behavioural analysis, gameplay telemetry, and machine learning models. Serious infractions will now carry stricter consequences, with strong detections resulting in immediate permanent bans. Other cases may receive temporary suspensions with a single chance to correct behaviour.

Family Sharing updates have strengthened their ability to remove repeat offenders, and Embark is preparing a systematic manual review process for ban appeals. The team describes the anti-cheat effort as an ongoing fight and emphasises continued investment in precision enforcement.

Smaller Additions And Quality Of Life Changes

Beyond balance and anti-cheat, Arc Raiders Update 1.17.0 introduces a surprising amount of polish.

Players can now interact with a piano topside, expanding the growing list of playable instruments. NVIDIA Freestyle filters can no longer all be enabled simultaneously, removing what Embark calls an unfair visual advantage.

Ziplines can no longer be placed on carryable objects or ARC remnants in ways that consume items incorrectly. Mines, traps, and remote flares cannot be stacked onto other deployables. Performance improvements, lighting fixes across maps, animation polish, audio adjustments, UI clarity improvements, and additional localisation updates round out the patch.

Even Scrappy has been adjusted, and will now “cluck less frequently” after player feedback about excessive noise.

What Comes Next For Arc Raiders In 2026

Shrouded Sky pushes Arc Raiders halfway through Embark’s four-month 2026 roadmap.

Flashpoint is expected in late March with more threats and changes to Scrappy, while Riven Tides is set to introduce a new map and a new large ARC in April.

Arc Raiders Update 1.17.0 sets a clear tone for the year. Embark is willing to nerf dominant PvP weapons, make powerful PvE gear harder to craft, and overhaul systems like input buffering and anti-cheat enforcement, all while layering in environmental mechanics like hurricanes that directly impact gameplay flow.

For Raiders who enjoy adapting to shifting metas and evolving conditions, Shrouded Sky is less about comfort and more about learning to survive in a storm.