ARC Raiders Highwinds Update Brings Secret Changes Not Mentioned in Patch Notes

new ARC Raiders The update introduces a few changes not mentioned in the patch notes, including a few shadow nerfs and another tweak to hatch animations. It's currently unclear whether these novel features were accidentally omitted from the official changelog, but some have proven controversial among users. ARC Raiders player.

Identified by the version number 1.13.0, it is the first major 2026 update. ARC Raiders It was released on PC and consoles on January 27th. In addition to adjusting elements such as maps, mobs, loot, quests, audio, and more, this patch introduces new matchmaking options and several activities.

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ARC Raiders 1.13.0 Made silent looting more annoying

The patch notes attached to the new update list dozens of changes, but appear to be far from complete. According to early player reports, build 1.13.0 introduces several unpublished tweaks that have notable gameplay impacts. Among them were changes to hatch animations, which are now slow again. The same goes for looting operations. This is known to be quite slow even after acquiring the relevant upgrades. ARC Raiders Skill tree. In particular, the time it takes for the item to be revealed after searching the container has increased, making the rooting process more cumbersome. This unannounced change has already sparked complaints from some players on social media.

This isn't the first time a popular escape shooter has quietly changed its loot mechanics. one of ARC Raiders An update previously released in mid-December 2025 had the opposite effect of speeding up container discovery and item disclosure. According to this new player report, patch 1.13.0 appears to have reverted these changes, so now the action at all upgrade levels for the Predator Instinct skill is pretty much the same as it was in December. The basis for these conflicting reconciliation orders remains unclear, as Embark refuses to acknowledge both changes. One possibility is that the developers intentionally undid previous adjustments based on telemetry data, opting for a slower looting experience due to some high-level design goals. Another thing to note is that the previous speed increase was unintentional, so the January 2026 patch was a fix rather than a balance adjustment.

ARC Raiders quietly nerfed some guns.

ARC Raiders Players are also reporting rate of fire shadow nerfs for Kettle, Venator, and Burletta following the late January 2026 update. This change marks the second nerf to the Kettle in just a few weeks, as the semi-automatic rifle previously received a similar reduction in patch 1.10.0 on January 13. At the time, the Swedish developer said its goal was to curb the abuse of macros – automated input sequences supported by third-party software that act as drivers for certain keyboards, mice, controllers and input accessories.

In a previous update, Embark stated that Kettle's original rate of fire was only “realistically achievable” through the use of macros. Because the average player couldn't click fast enough to achieve this. Accordingly, we lowered the ratio to create a more fair playing environment. It's unclear whether this second Shadow nerf reflects the same reasoning. Nonetheless, the Kettle's rate of fire is now 360 rounds per minute, almost half of the original 600 ROF.

The 1.13.0 patch notes mention that two new Epic Augments are being added to the game, but no detailed explanation is given. According to recent player reports, these vaguely documented mods can primarily be obtained through Blueprints. One of them is Looting Mk. 3 Safekeeper, adds a safe pocket to store any item. The other is the Tactical Mk. 3 Revival restores 1 HP every 5 seconds, but pauses for 30 seconds after the player takes damage. Has an integrated defibrillation slot and is only compatible with light shields.


ARC Raiders Tag Page Cover Art


released

October 30, 2025

ESRB

Youth/Violence, Blood


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