The developers of Arc Raiders have taken a significant step toward addressing persistent community requests for a dedicated PvE experience. The latest update introduces “Shared Watch,” a limited-time event described as a commemoration of the camaraderie required to survive against relentless mechanical threats.
Effective from February 10 through February 24, the game’s reward structure has been temporarily recalibrated. While PvP remains active, players will no longer accumulate Merits through hostile encounters with other Raiders; instead, defeated opponents will only yield the physical loot they were carrying. To earn Merits during this period, players must focus their efforts on damaging and dismantling ARC machines, fostering a spirit of cooperation in the ongoing war against the automatons.
Accompanying this shift is a fresh event track packed with various gameplay enhancements and cosmetic unlocks. Notable rewards include the blueprint for the Tactical Mk. 3 (Healing) augment, a Snap Hook, and the Vita Spray blueprint. Furthermore, fans of the game’s avian mascot can look forward to a stylish batting helmet for Scrappy.
The “Cold Snap” map condition has also made its return after a successful winter run. This environmental hazard forces Raiders to manage their body temperature; remaining in the frost for too long results in frostbite, which can only be alleviated by seeking shelter indoors. While the seasonal Candleberries no longer serve a specific event function, they can still be gathered alongside snowballs, and players will notice a marked increase in the overall value of loot found across the map.
Two new cosmetic collections have been introduced to the game. The Vulpine set—featuring a distinct fox-pelt headpiece, muted leather garments, and white war paint—is currently available in the storefront. Meanwhile, the baseball-themed Slugger set, a padded long-sleeve ensemble, is earned by progressing through the Shared Watch event track.
On the technical side, the patch implements several quality-of-life improvements and bug fixes, though a resolution for the well-known duplication exploit remains absent from this update. Highlights of the technical changes include:
- Trailblazer Grenade Tuning: The explosive no longer penetrates walls. It now deals increased damage to smaller targets but has reduced effectiveness against heavy ARC units.
- Weapon Swapping: PC players should experience more reliable weapon switching when using keybinds not mapped to the mouse wheel.
- Trial Rewards: Addressed a bug where round-end timeouts prevented players from receiving their earned trial rewards.
- Crafting Stability: Resolved an issue that caused crafting queues to be interrupted or canceled unexpectedly.
For a comprehensive breakdown of all changes, players can consult the official Arc Raiders patch notes.
Source: Polygon
