Embark Studios kicked off 2026 with Arc Raiders update 1.11.0, focusing on balancing dominant weapons and adding new cosmetics for players to enjoy during topside runs. Available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC since January 13, the patch targets the Kettle semi-automatic rifle and Trigger 'Nade grenade, both of which had been dominating PvP matches. Alongside these changes, the Abyss cosmetic set arrives, bringing deep, ocean-inspired visuals to complement the game's post-apocalyptic world ARC Raiders Items.

The Kettle sees a fire rate reduction from 600 to 450 rounds per minute to limit exploit use and encourage precision over spray-and-pray play. Players relying on it for holding chokepoints or clearing ARC will need to adjust, potentially swapping to burst rifles or SMGs for sustained fights.

The Trigger 'Nade also receives a major tweak. Its damage now falls off sharply at range, and detonation delay increases from 0.7 to 1.5 seconds, giving opponents a better chance to react. Sticky bomb functionality remains, so it's still useful for area denial or flushing objectives, but airborne spam is less punishing.

Other fixes improve overall reliability, like patching a keycard exploit that allowed raiders to hoard room keys. On the Stella Montis Night Raid map, certain areas now have lower lighting, making flashlights and sound cues more important for navigation and ambush detection, adding tension without bloating the update.

The Abyss cosmetic set adds a visual reward to balance the gameplay changes. Inspired by underwater themes, it includes armor wraps, weapon skins, and helmet accents with subtle particle effects. The set is designed to stand out in chaotic firefights while keeping enemy visibility clear, giving players new ways to customize their look.

These changes encourage more diverse loadouts, moving away from stacking Kettles and Trigger 'Nades in every raid. On maps like Stella Montis, slower grenades demand careful throws or combos with smokes and frags, while solo players benefit from mobility perks to dodge nerfed spam ARC Raiders Coins for sale.

Embark Studios also teases upcoming anti-cheat improvements and content drops, including a free “Gilded Pickaxe Raider Tool” for early logins. Update 1.11.0 demonstrates the studio's approach: balancing the meta while offering cosmetic rewards, keeping the game fair, exciting, and stylish for over 12 million players.