ARC Raiders Introduces New Trader, Major Balance Changes, and Anti-Cheat Upgrade

ARC Raiders has released its new 1.29.0 update, bringing a fresh trader system, a new grenade launcher, gameplay balancing, social improvements, and anti-cheat upgrades. The patch also introduces several quality-of-life fixes following player feedback from previous updates.

One of the biggest additions is a new trader named Ermal, also known as the Nomadic Envoy. Players who reach Level 25 can now access his special barter system in Speranza. Ermal accepts valuable ARC materials and rare weapons in exchange for high-tier items and progression rewards.

He also introduces expanded stash space and a new Expedition Vault system. The Expedition Vault allows players to safely store up to five valuable items and retrieve them after an Expedition. Weekly rotating offers include cosmetics, blueprints, Raider Tokens, and progression-focused rewards.

New Rascal grenade launcher joins the arsenal

The update also introduces a compact grenade launcher called The Rascal. Developers describe it as a lighter anti-ARC sidearm designed for players who want explosive firepower without carrying the heavier Hullcracker.

The Rascal delivers strong damage output but comes with slower reload times and less predictable accuracy. Embark Studios says the weapon offers a safer and more mobile alternative for dealing with ARC enemies.

ARC enemies now detect players more realistically

Update 1.29.0 includes several AI and balance changes focused on fairness and stealth gameplay. ARC enemies now react more naturally to players hiding in bushes or smoke.

Players standing near the edge of cover are easier to detect, while deeper concealment inside foliage or smoke provides better protection. Sound detection also received adjustments, with ARC enemies hearing players more effectively outdoors while detection indoors or through geometry has been reduced.

The developers also adjusted Queen and Matriarch movement to reduce frustrating knockback situations during encounters.

Weapon durability changes after player feedback

Embark made additional durability tweaks after players criticized the previous patch for making weapons degrade too quickly. Some weapons now last longer before breaking.

Weapon mods also gained new functionality. Scoped weapons can now receive aim-down-sights transition speed bonuses through specific modifications, giving players more customization options during combat.

Social features and end-of-round improvements

The update improves squad visibility and social tools. Players can now see every squad member at the end of a round, including teammates who failed to extract.

Nameplates now support social actions such as reporting, muting, and blocking players directly from the interface. Players can also leave squads immediately during the tunnel sequence instead of waiting for the round to fully end.

Embark also fixed a console voice chat issue affecting PS5 and Xbox users when opening the console UI.

Denuvo Anti-Cheat rollout begins May 19

The update also marks the beginning of Denuvo Anti-Cheat integration for ARC Raiders. The rollout starts on May 19 and will initially target a limited group of players.

The developers clarified that the game is not using Denuvo DRM. According to Embark, the anti-cheat system will work alongside Anybrain to improve cheat detection while minimizing performance impact.

The update arrives as Embark recently confirmed ARC Raiders will move toward larger bi-annual updates instead of smaller monthly patches. Meanwhile, other gaming news includes the launch of Forza Horizon 6 and ongoing compatibility complaints surrounding Valve’s Steam Controller outside Steam.