ARC Raiders: Embark Unleashes 2 Terrifying New ARCs (and Axes All PvP Challenges)
The winds are howling across Dam Battlegrounds, a flying flamethrower stalks Raiders from above, and on the ground, a silent machine waits patiently to unleash a seismic blast. Welcome to Shrouded Sky.
Since launch, ARC Raiders has been evolving at breakneck speed, with new content and some hotly debated tweaks. Update 1.17.0, dropping February 24, marks a major turning point. Dubbed Shrouded Sky, it introduces two never-before-seen ARC enemies, permanent hurricane conditions on four maps, and a seismic shift in game philosophy: the removal of PvP Feats. After admitting how certain events turned into camper paradises, Embark Studios keeps reinventing itself.
Image credit: Embark Studios
Firefly and Comet: two new mechanical nightmares
Shrouded Sky isn’t just blowing in—it’s unleashing two new ARC machines into the wild. The Firefly, described by Embark Studios as “a floating nightmare,” is a flying drone armed with a flamethrower that can “turn your Raider to ash unless you move fast or find cover.” Picture a Hornet, but with a flamethrower and a grudge. The Comet plays a different game: this ground-based machine “calmly patrols until it spots an unsuspecting Raider,” then “locks on with chilling focus and detonates in a seismic boom.” One forces you to run for your life, the other punishes you if you’re too slow to react. Together, they’re about to rewrite the threat level in every raid.
These two enemies will also fuel the new community project, the Weather Monitoring System, where players gather materials to build a weather surveillance network. Parts salvaged from Firefly and Comet wrecks will almost certainly be essential for progressing in this collective effort.
Hurricane hits: a weather condition that changes everything
After previous temporary weather events that already rattled the community, the hurricane is now in permanent rotation on four maps: Blue Gate, Buried City, Spaceport, and Dam Battlegrounds. No time slots, no FOMO—the storm is here to stay.
In practice, tailwinds boost your speed, while headwinds slow you down and drain your stamina. Debris whipped up by the storm damages shields and leaves you exposed, all while visibility drops to near zero. The hurricane doesn’t just make life harder—it also reveals new First Wave Raider Caches, high-value loot chests only accessible to Raiders bold enough to brave the gale. Classic risk-reward, but cranked up to eleven by the chaos.
Dam Battlegrounds expands with a high-security zone
Dam Battlegrounds, the game’s entry map, is getting its first real layout overhaul since ARC Raiders launched. A new area called the Controlled Access Zone is making its debut, featuring loot described by the studio as “high-security” and “high-value.” To spot it, Embark drops a visual hint: “You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see the Artificer chandelier.”
This addition is a strategic move. By enriching the map that greets new players, Embark gives veterans a reason to revisit the Dam Battlegrounds, while offering newcomers an ambitious loot target right from their first runs. Combined with the hurricane, this zone promises memorable clashes around a must-have point of interest.
Finally, beards! The Raider Deck Surgeon is here for free
It’s been one of the community’s most persistent requests, and Shrouded Sky finally delivers: facial hair has landed in ARC Raiders. Every player gets a free short beard, while the new Raider Deck Surgeon—also totally free—unlocks a full beard, a thick mustache, and both nurse and surgeon outfits.
Beyond the cosmetic fun, these medical outfits are sure to become the unofficial uniform of “Rescue Raiders”—those support-focused players who keep their squads alive. A Devotee set is also on the way for the premium shop, but most of this cosmetic wave is yours for zero credits.
Embark removes PvP Feats: another step toward PvE?
This is probably the most symbolic change in the update. PvP-oriented Feats—those micro-challenges like “deal damage to Raiders with light ammo” or “loot downed Raiders”—have been completely wiped from the game. These challenges fueled the Raider Deck (the free battle pass equivalent) and pushed players to hunt each other, even when it didn’t fit the moment.
Cutting them sends a clear message: Embark is steering ARC Raiders ever more toward a PvE and co-op focused experience. Players can now reroll their Feats for free three times a day, giving more flexibility to pick goals that fit their playstyle. Combined with the recent crackdown on cheaters, the studio seems determined to clean up the overall experience.
Weapon balance: Stitcher nerfed, Venator buffed
On the meta side, Shrouded Sky is shuffling the deck. The Stitcher, a staple for several patches, gets hit with a triple nerf: base damage drops from 7 to 6.5, headshot multiplier falls from 2.5 to 1.75, and shot spread increases by about 50%. The Kettle follows suit, with base damage down from 10 to 8.5 and a reduced headshot multiplier. Embark notes these tweaks also fix an input buffer bug from version 1.13 that unintentionally affected several weapons.
On the flip side, the Venator gets a real boost: better ADS zoom (from 1.9x to 2.2x), faster equip and reload times, increased fire rate, and vertical recoil cut in half. Jupiter and Aphelion also get tweaks, aiming for better balance between low- and high-tier weapons. Ziplines can no longer be placed on carryable objects, and mines can’t be stacked on other deployables—so much for creative combos. A new catch-up system for Expeditions lets you recover missed Skill Points from previous runs.
Shrouded Sky is live now and free for all ARC Raiders players. With the Weather Monitoring System community project launching alongside, there’s plenty to keep Raiders busy well beyond this week. The real question: will hurricanes and new ARC machines be enough to shake up raid dynamics for good?
ARC Raiders, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
