The wait is over. Arc Raiders Update 1.17.0, officially dubbed Shrouded Sky, went live on February 24, 2026 and it’s the biggest balance shakeup the game has seen since launch. Embark Studios came in swinging, targeting the two weapons every player knew were broken: the Stitcher and the Kettle.
If you’ve been getting melted in PvP and wondering “how is that even fair?” this update is your answer. Let’s break down everything in the Arc Raiders Shrouded Sky patch notes.
What Is the Shrouded Sky Update?
Shrouded Sky is Arc Raiders’ major content update for February 2026. It rolled out at approximately 1:30 a.m. PST (4:30 a.m. EST) on February 24, with servers going live progressively across regions including 9:30 a.m. GMT for UK players.
Beyond the headline weapon nerfs, this update brings a massive new Hurricane map condition, two new ARC enemy types, a free Raider Deck, cosmetic additions, and a long list of bug fixes. In short, a lot changed overnight.
Stitcher Nerf: The Ambush King Gets Dethroned
The Stitcher has dominated close-quarters PvP since Arc Raiders launched in October 2024. Its TTK (time-to-kill) was so fast that players barely had time to react when caught off guard. Embark called it out directly in their dev note:
“The Stitcher has played its role well as a close quarter weapon that rewards thoughtful positioning, but we’ve found that its fast TTK can sometimes lead to situations where you’re ambushed and killed before you have much time to react.” – Embark Studios, Official Shrouded Sky Patch Notes
Here’s what changed for the Stitcher in Update 1.17.0:
- Headshot multiplier: Reduced from 2.5 to 1.75
- Base damage: Reduced from 7 to 6.5
- Per-shot dispersion: Increased by approximately 50%
That dispersion increase is the sneaky one. It means the Stitcher will feel noticeably less laser-accurate even in short bursts. Combined with the damage and headshot nerfs, its TTK takes a real hit.
Kettle Nerf: No More Pocket SMG
The Kettle’s situation is a bit more interesting. Embark designed it as a medium-range weapon – deliberate, hard-hitting, rewarding patience. But players? They took it into close quarters and turned it into a discount SMG. Honestly, you can’t blame them. It worked.
Embark’s dev note for the Kettle was refreshingly candid:
“The Kettle has been in a bit of a weird place… we see many of you bringing it up in close quarters and effectively turning it into an SMG.” – Embark Studios, Official Patch Notes
Changes for the Kettle in Shrouded Sky:
- Base damage: Reduced from 10 to 8.5
- High headshot multiplier: Kept intact (intentionally)
The logic here is clever. Embark wants to push Kettle players toward actually aiming for headshots rather than just spray-and-praying at SMG range. It rewards skill while bringing raw damage in line. Whether this distinction holds up in real lobbies remains to be seen.
Venator Gets Nerfed Again
The Venator already saw nerfs back in Update 1.3.0, but apparently, it didn’t stick. According to Embark’s own data, it remained one of the highest-performing weapons in PvP well after those adjustments – despite community pushback.
Venator changes in Update 1.17.0:
- Headshot multiplier: Reduced from 2.5 to 2
- Base damage: Reduced from 9 to 8
Embark also fixed an unintended input buffer that let players fire semi-auto weapons at max fire rate by clicking as fast as possible. That fix alone is huge for the Venator meta – it effectively brings the weapon back to its intended rhythm instead of rewarding whoever has the fastest mouse finger.
Jupiter & Aphelion Get Buffs
Not everything in this patch is nerfs. Two legendary weapons – the Jupiter and Aphelion – got handling improvements to make them more competitive in PvP.
Jupiter buffs include:
- Better ADS (aim-down-sights) performance
- Improved equip times
Aphelion buffs include:
- Faster reload speed
- Reduced recoil
Embark has been clear about their goal: they want high-tier weapons to feel worth the investment. With low-tier guns like the Stitcher punching so far above their weight, the tier system was becoming a bit of a joke. These buffs help restore that hierarchy.
Semi-Auto Fire Rate Fix: A Hidden Nerf
Worth calling out separately: Embark fixed an unintended input buffer that allowed semi-automatic weapons to fire at their maximum rate regardless of click timing. This directly impacts the Venator and Kettle, which players could previously fire at blazing speed by simply clicking as fast as possible.
Now, if you don’t hit the correct firing cadence, your DPS will drop significantly. The skill ceiling goes up, and the spray-and-pray meta takes another hit. Good.
Wolfpack Grenade: Harder to Craft Now
The Wolfpack grenade was many players’ go-to for taking down large ARC enemies. That just got more complicated. The Wolfpack now requires a Rocketeer Drive as a crafting component, and its value has increased from 5,000 to 6,000.
The silver lining? Rocketeer Drives can now be obtained from electrified husks or during electromagnetic storms, so the material exists in the game, you’ll just need to work for it.
Hurricane Map Condition: Everything Changes Up Top
The biggest new feature in Shrouded Sky isn’t a weapon. It’s the weather.
A new Hurricane map condition blankets the Rust Belt in ferocious winds, slashing visibility and battering shields with debris. Gale-force winds either slow you down or speed you up depending on your direction of movement. Tube systems become dangerous, blocking safe extractions and pushing players to take topside risks for high-value First Wave Raider Caches.
This isn’t just cosmetic. It forces genuine strategy changes. You can’t just run the same route and expect the same result. Storms are a variable now, and a deadly one.
A new Weather Monitoring System project also lets players gather materials to predict incoming storms, unlocking rewards and adding a layer of strategic depth for prepared raiders.
Two New ARC Enemy Types
Two new threats join the Rust Belt in Shrouded Sky:
Firefly – A floating armored drone that spews flames. It will incinerate you if you get caught in its path. No drama, no mercy.
Comet – A spherical ARC machine that patrols calmly until it locks onto a Raider – then it detonates explosively. The Comet is a spherical ARC machine that calmly patrols the surface until it comes across an unsuspecting Raider. That’s polite language for “it hunts you down and explodes.”
Both new enemies appear in the Dam Battlegrounds, which now includes a high-security Controlled Access Zone marked by a distinctive Rocketeer chandelier – packed with premium loot for those willing to fight for it.
Free Surgeon Raider Deck & Cosmetics
Yes, there’s actually free stuff in this patch. A new Surgeon Raider Deck unlocks progressively through topside Feats, offering a dual-style outfit (Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde, which is a very fun choice), plus Cred rewards and a Full Beard option.
Facial hair officially debuts in Arc Raiders with Shrouded Sky. Free Stubble unlocks for everyone, and more beard styles are available through the Surgeon Deck or the store. It’s a small detail, but honestly, raiding a post-apocalyptic wasteland just feels more authentic with a beard.
Paid cosmetics include the Volare Set (wind-resistant aesthetic, fitting for the hurricane theme) and the upcoming Devotee Set.
Item & Economy Changes
Several items had their values and crafting requirements updated:
- Items with added ARC parts as crafting costs saw their sell values and trader prices increase to match
- Wolfpack: Value 5,000 to 6,000; now requires Rocketeer Driver; Refined Explosive cost reduced
- ARC Parts sell value has been reduced to better reflect their crafting and progression uses
The economy changes are subtle but signal Embark’s intent to make crafting more deliberate and materials more meaningful as the game matures.
Quality-of-Life & Gameplay Changes
A number of gameplay improvements also shipped with Shrouded Sky:
- Feats can now be rerolled three times per day for free – a highly requested feature
- PvP Feats have been removed, with several existing Feats updated and new ones added
- Ziplines can no longer be placed on carryable objects
- Mines, traps, and remote flares can no longer be placed on other deployables – no more stacking cheese
- You can now make purchases with seeds and free loadout augments even if your stash is overflowing
- An interactable piano has been added to the world (yes, really – join the guitar and flute)
Bug Fixes
The patch addresses a solid list of bugs. Key fixes include:
- Fixed an issue where a downed Raider’s body could block hatch extraction by triggering a search prompt
- Prevented enabling all NVIDIA Freestyle filters simultaneously – this was being used for an unfair visual advantage
- Fixed a crash on DirectX 11 game launch
- Fixed a crash when traversing ziplines
- Fixed broken interactions near the top of certain ladders
- Fixed collision issues on Stella Montis (Lobby, Atrium, Loading Bay, Train Station tunnels, Seed Vault) to prevent out-of-bounds exploits
- Lowered the chance of finding rare loot in chimneys slightly during the Bird City map condition
- Fixed the “Blindsided” achievement not triggering correctly on first attempt
Anti-Cheat Update
Embark also addressed their anti-cheat stance in this update. They noted they did not fully convey the “complexity and scale of what goes into cheat detection” during their last statement, and confirmed stricter penalties for serious offenders are now in effect. It’s a welcome step toward keeping competitive lobbies fair.
What Does This Mean for the Meta?
The Stitcher and Kettle dominated PvP since Arc Raiders went into preview in October 2024. Starter-tier weapons outperforming high-tier endgame gear is never a good look, and the community knew it.
The community agrees that the Stitcher and Kettle were much better than late-game weapons – a problem Embark has now moved to correct. With those nerfs in place, the Toro and Bobcat emerge as the new frontrunners in terms of raw PvP power, and legendary weapons like the Jupiter and Aphelion finally have the handling to compete.
The Wolfpack crafting change is also significant for PvE – players will need to rethink their large-ARC strategies and farm Rocketeer Drives if they want access to the grenade reliably.
In short: the meta changed. Adapt or die. Preferably with a beard now.
Final Thoughts
Arc Raiders Update 1.17.0 is the kind of patch that signals a developer paying genuine attention. Embark didn’t just nerf numbers – they explained why, which is something too many live-service devs skip entirely. The Shrouded Sky update is live right now across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.
For the full official patch notes, visit the Arc Raiders website.
Drop your thoughts in the comments. Are you happy with the Stitcher nerf, or do you think Embark went too far? And are you brave enough to take on the Hurricane conditions for those First Wave Cache rewards?
