Today, Embark Studios released Arc Raiders update 1.29.0, adding significant features to Speranza, including plenty of new features and quality-of-life improvements.
Arc Raiders update 1.29.0 is highlighted by a new high-level trader, a brand-new sidearm, weapon durability adjustments, and anti-cheat updates.
First, there is a new nomadic envoy: A new trader named Ermal from the nomadic tribe has arrived in Speranza. It is important to note that players must be at least Level 25 to unlock and interact with this vendor.
Ermal accepts high-value ARC materials and rare weapons instead of standard currency and gives access to weekly rotating blueprints, cosmetics, Raider Tokens, and progression items. They also let you safely store up to 5 of their best items between runs and temporarily expand your stash, which resets after each expedition.
Weapons and durability get significant changes in Arc Raiders update 1.29.0, highlighted by the Rascal Grenade Launcher. This new compact, lightweight side-arm launcher offers reliable anti-ARC firepower with a slower reload and unpredictable aim.
Durability Lifespan was also given a buff, as loss rates have been relaxed for the worst-offending weapons that were breaking too quickly.
The Extended Barrel Mod has been renamed to the Extended Barrel III, given a new visual mesh, and split into two lower-tier variants (Extended Barrel I & II). The bullet velocity bonus is also increased to 30%, and the damage fall-off distance is boosted by 15%.
Gadgets and augments got some changes, including a significant buff to Photoelectric Cloak that halves its power cost from 10/s to 5/s and doubles its active duration.
Cloud of Renewal for Tactical Mk. 3 (Healing) is now an AoE effect that heals both allies and nearby enemies, with healing increased from 20 to 45, but cooldown increased from 30s to 45s. Shield capacity for Combat Mk. 3 (Flanking) is updated to accept Medium Shields for better survivability.
Other quality of life changes and adjustments coming as of Arc Raiders Update 1.29.0 include:
- Knockback Fixes: Queen and Matriarch units will now step over obstacles rather than clipping through them, reducing instances of unfair player knockback.
- Vision & Smoke: ARC vision mechanics updated; Raiders near the edge of cover or smoke are easier to spot, while those deep in foliage are harder to detect.
- Sound Perception: ARC now hears better in open spaces but has reduced audio sensitivity in indoor environments and through solid walls.
- ARC Turbine: Improved landing angles to reduce visual clipping and leg invisibility bugs. Increased the hazard odds of Raiders getting burned while inside a Turbine.
- Spawn Buff: ARC machines are less perceptive of Raiders immediately upon spawning into a session
- Hatch Immunity: Players are now entirely immune to stuns while entering a Raider Hatch, preventing extraction interruptions.
- Social Systems: Added an explicit option to block players directly after filing an in-game report.
- End of Round: The squad screen now displays all team members regardless of successful extraction, allowing you to mute, report, or leave the squad during the tunnel sequence.
- Audio Improvements: Binaural audio upgraded to clarify height, elevation, and footsteps. Damage audio ducking has been reduced.
The developers are also working on known issues, including:
- Opening the console menu on PS5/Xbox while matchmaking causes the matchmaking to be cancelled.
- The Sandveil outfit scarf may appear stretched with long hairstyles clipping through.
- Players can fall from the map by walking near the wall of the Pilgrim Peak’s building.
- Successful Extraction music plays in the background when the new Trader Introduction video is shown to the player after they return to the main menu.
- Characters in Squad Walk screen may fail to appear under certain circumstances.
- Dolabra does not deal damage to training dummies on Practice Range.
- Pause on an Augment’s Regen Effect fails to apply after Player’s revival.
- The throw animation may sometimes fail to play if the player attempts to detonate a Trigger ‘Nade immediately after throwing it.
- Some localization issues across the UI, including missing text in the settings menu and loading screen quotes.
- In rare cases purchases might not work in the customization screen, reopen the customization screen to fix it.
- The Firefly may sometimes disappear after going idle and drop an incendiary grenade.
- Shredders float to the ceiling in some rooms of the Hidden Bunker.
- Player animations may appear broken when interrupting a search of the Baron Husk.
- The Leaper can jump through the ARC Turbine.
Embark Studios rounded out the news for Arc Raiders Update 1.29.0 by following up on the anti-cheat solutions that they mentioned during the last Ensuring Fair Play dev blog. Denuvo Anti-Cheat will come to Arc Raiders starting May 19, initially to a limited player pool, with plans to expand after close monitoring, though they will not be using the Digital Rights Management (DRM) service.
