It’s been a solid few weeks since the Flashpoint update dropped, and while it brought some exciting new content to Arc Raiders, it also introduced its fair share of bugs.
Raiders quickly noticed issues with the new ARC enemies, the Close Scrutiny map condition acting up, and several gameplay glitches that made raids frustrating.
Embark Studios has been listening, and today they’ve released Update 1.23.0 to clean up the mess.
If you’ve been dealing with Rocketeers making weird sounds, Trigger ‘Nades doing absurd damage, or getting stuck on Assessor platforms, this patch addresses those headaches.
Arc Raiders Patch Notes for Update 1.23.0There’s also a new Vanguard skin set hitting the store if you’re looking to refresh your raider’s appearance.
Arc Raiders Patch Notes for Update 1.23.0
What’s New in Arc Raiders Update 1.23.0
The update went live on April 8, 2026, weighing in at 1.2 GB across PC and consoles.
While there aren’t any massive feature additions this time around, the focus is squarely on stability and fixing the issues that cropped up after Flashpoint launched.
Fresh Cosmetics: Vanguard Skin Set
The highlight on the content side is the Vanguard set, now available for purchase in the in-game shop.
If you’ve been saving up or just want to stand out during your next raid, this new cosmetic bundle gives your character a fresh military-inspired look.
It’s purely aesthetic, so it won’t affect your performance, but it’s a nice option for players who like customizing their raiders.
ARC Enemy Improvements
One of the more noticeable bugs involved Rocketeers using incorrect combat alert sounds.
It might seem minor, but when you’re trying to survive a heated encounter, audio cues matter.
The wrong sound could throw off your reaction timing or make it harder to identify which enemy type you’re facing.
That’s been corrected now, so Rocketeers will sound like they’re supposed to.
Core Gameplay Fixes and Adjustments
This update tackles several gameplay mechanics that weren’t working as intended. Here’s what Embark has addressed:
Weapon and Item Behavior
Trigger ‘Nades damage bug was probably the most game-breaking issue.
Sometimes, two grenades detonating near each other would deal three times the expected damage instead of double.
That made certain encounters wildly unpredictable and gave players unintended advantages (or got them killed when enemies used them).
It’s been fixed, so grenade damage now calculates properly.
There was also a problem where items couldn’t be used immediately when you were holding fire and trying to switch to them.
That split-second delay could mean the difference between surviving an encounter or getting melted.
The responsiveness has been improved.
Additionally, weapons and items firing automatically has been patched.
Nothing worse than accidentally wasting ammo or revealing your position because your gun decided to go off on its own.
Camera and Movement Issues
The shoulder camera swap bug frustrated a lot of players.
Your camera would get stuck on one side and refuse to switch, limiting your field of view during critical moments.
That’s been resolved, giving you back full control over your perspective.
An exploit involving the anvil splitter has been patched too.
Players were finding ways to use it without suffering the normal dispersion penalty, which gave them an unfair accuracy advantage.
That loophole’s closed now.
One quality-of-life change: barricades can no longer be placed on top of ziplines. It might’ve been useful in some niche situations, but it caused more problems than it solved.
| Bug Type | Issue | Fix Status |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon | Trigger ‘Nades dealing 3x damage | Fixed |
| Item Usage | Delay when switching while firing | Fixed |
| Camera | Shoulder swap stuck on one side | Fixed |
| Exploit | Anvil splitter dispersion bypass | Patched |
| Placement | Barricades on ziplines | Disabled |
Map-Specific Bug Fixes
Map issues can completely ruin immersion and fairness. Here’s what got fixed across different locations:
Stella Montis Corrections
On Stella Montis, there was a bizarre bug where players would catch fire automatically when standing outside a locked room in the Medical Research area.
No enemy involvement, no fire hazard nearby—just spontaneous combustion.
That’s been eliminated.
There was also a spot where players could shoot through floors, which is obviously a problem for fair combat.
That geometry issue has been addressed.
Buried City Updates
The Buried City was missing some staircases, which either made areas inaccessible or forced weird navigation workarounds.
Those have been added back in.
During Locked Gate encounters, the code printer would sometimes become unresponsive, blocking progress entirely.
Multiple instances of this have been fixed, though Embark notes they’re still monitoring for any remaining cases.
Close Scrutiny Map Condition Overhaul
The Close Scrutiny map condition introduced with Flashpoint had some serious issues that made it frustrating to play.
The Assessor mechanic is central to this mode, and when it doesn’t work right, the whole experience falls apart.
Movement and AI Adjustments
Rocketeers and Vaporizers had their movement speed adjusted.
They were behaving strangely while idling, which made their behavior unpredictable and sometimes easier to exploit.
The adjustments make their movement more consistent with their intended threat level.
Vaporizers getting stuck when approaching an Assessor has been fixed.
This was annoying because it could either make encounters too easy or prevent progression if the enemy AI froze in a critical spot.
Assessor Platform Fixes
Several issues plagued the Assessor platforms specifically:
- Reconnected players can now see Assessor platforms correctly instead of having them invisible or misplaced
- Assessor probes failing to return to orbit has been addressed
- Breach platforms breaking when players spammed the Breach & Search prompts won’t happen anymore
- Players getting stuck when jumping between Assessor platforms is fixed
- A collision issue in Buried City where an Assessor and Probe would land in the same spot has been corrected
One important AI improvement: All ARC enemies summoned by the Assessor probe will now correctly depart and despawn if they remain idle too long.
Previously, they’d just hang around indefinitely, which could cause performance issues or unexpected encounters later.
The map ping accuracy for Assessors has been improved too, so when you mark one on the map screen, it actually shows where it is instead of some random location.
Additional Technical Fixes
Beyond the major gameplay changes, Update 1.23.0 addresses some UI and stability issues:
- Weapon upgrade UI was showing incorrect tiers, making it confusing to understand your actual upgrade progress
- Completely transparent helmet visors have been fixed (you could see through them entirely, which wasn’t intended)
- Visual effects causing crashes have been addressed in several instances
Embark has noted they’re actively investigating remaining crash reports and working on additional stability improvements for future updates.
Expert Insight: Why These Fixes Matter
While this might look like a standard bug-fix patch on the surface, several of these changes significantly impact competitive viability.
The Trigger ‘Nades damage calculation fix alone changes how aggressive you can be with grenade spam.
Players who were relying on that bug for quick eliminations will need to adjust their tactics.
The Close Scrutiny fixes are crucial because this map condition was essentially broken for many players.
When core mechanics like Assessor platforms don’t work, entire raid strategies fall apart.
These fixes should make Close Scrutiny actually playable as intended, which could shift the meta around how teams approach that condition.
The anvil splitter exploit patch is interesting because it suggests Embark is watching for mechanical exploits closely.
Expect them to continue tightening up these kinds of advantages in future patches.
FAQ
- Is Update 1.23.0 required to play Arc Raiders?
Yes, you’ll need to download the 1.2 GB update to access online features. It’s mandatory for all platforms.
- Does the Vanguard skin set affect gameplay?
No, it’s purely cosmetic. You won’t get any performance advantages or disadvantages from wearing it.
- Are there any weapon balance changes in this patch?
No, this update focuses entirely on bug fixes. Weapon balancing isn’t included in 1.23.0.
- Will the Close Scrutiny fixes affect drop rates or rewards?
No indication of that. The fixes address technical issues and AI behavior, not loot or progression systems.
- Are crashes completely fixed now?
Embark has addressed several crash-causing visual effects, but they note they’re still investigating other crash reports. Stability should be improved, but not necessarily perfect yet.
Wrapping Up
Update 1.23.0 isn’t flashy, but it’s necessary.
Embark Studios is doing the right thing by addressing the issues that came with Flashpoint before pushing forward with new content.
The game’s in a much more stable state now, especially if you’ve been dealing with Close Scrutiny bugs or those frustrating gameplay glitches.
The Vanguard skin set is a nice bonus if you’re into cosmetics, but the real value here is in the improved playability.
Whether you’re a solo raider or running with a squad, these fixes should make your raids smoother and more predictable—which is exactly what the game needed after Flashpoint’s rocky launch.
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