ARC Raiders 1.11.0 Update Overview | Stop Abusing These Weapons in PvP!
Category: ARC Raiders Posted: Jan 14, 2026 Views: 1089
ARC Raiders released Update 1.11.0 on January 13th, almost a month after the last update (Update 1.7.0, released on December 16th). This update not only includes some expected weapon balance adjustments, but also a free gift for all players.
The store has also received new items, and the developers shared some in-depth insights into the aggression-based matchmaking mechanism. Let's take a closer look at the details of this update.

Update 1.11.0 And Free Gift
Update 1.11.0 is now available on all platforms. This update brings the highly anticipated Abyss outfit set, along with fixes and balance adjustments to Trigger 'Nade and Kettle.
Meanwhile, the developers are celebrating a significant milestone: ARC Raiders has surpassed 12 million copies sold. The official plan was to distribute this gift upon reaching 10 million players, but player enthusiasm during the holiday far exceeded expectations, and by the time the development team returned from their holiday, sales had already reached 12 million copies.
All players who logged in from the game's release until 11:59 PM (UTC) on January 13th can claim Gilded Pickaxe Raider Tool for free.
You can claim the free Gilded Pickaxe from your in-game inbox. While it's a nice gold-plated tool.
Furthermore, the limited-time map event Cold Snap has ended, so this week's content will be relatively quiet. The official team has hinted at more content coming in the future, with rumors suggesting a Toxic Swamp event is indeed in the plans, perhaps to be released after the next major update.
Major Balance Adjustments
This update specifically nerfs two items that were performing too well in PvP.
Kettle
Changes: Rate of fire reduced from 600 rounds per minute to 450 rounds per minute.
The previous rate of fire could only be consistently achieved by players using macros or third-party software, creating an unfair gaming environment. This adjustment aims to bring Kettle's damage per second and time to kill (TTK) back to levels similar to weapons like Arpeggio.
For players with normal hand speed, this nerf has a limited impact, reducing the number of clicks per second from approximately 12 to 7-8. This primarily curbs extreme output achieved through macros, protecting a fair competitive environment, and also prevents players from becoming too reliant on Kettle and developing hand injuries.
Trigger 'Nade
Changes: Explosion damage falloff has been rebalanced, with damage more concentrated at the blast center and reduced edge damage. The delay between grenade trigger and explosion has increased from 0.7 seconds to 1.5 seconds.
Trigger 'Nade is currently too powerful in PvP and is the preferred grenade for many players. This nerf reduces its effectiveness as a trigger-in-air gadget while retaining its utility as a sticky bomb.
The longer delay gives opponents more reaction time, making it harder to time the detonation precisely. Players now need more accurate throwing and prediction to use it effectively. It's still a decent option, but no longer as unbalanced as it used to be.
Game Content Changes

Cold Snap was a rather interesting map condition, but unfortunately, its duration was limited. The related questline and trials have been removed, leading to earlier appearances of items like Locked Gate in Blue Gate, but also giving players more opportunities to acquire ARC Raiders blueprints.
A new Abyss Set and a Diver-themed cosmetics set have been added to the shop. Abyss Set costs 1600 Raider Tokens and includes an outfit (1300 Raider Tokens), a sea monster face tattoo (300 Raider Tokens), a depth gauge accessory (300 Raider Tokens), and an emote (400 Raider Tokens).
The Other Cosmetics, Diver Set, valued at 700 Raider Tokens, only includes an oxygen tank backpack, fins, and a diving mask charm.
Developer Interview Regarding Matchmaking Mechanism
In an interview, the game design lead clarified some misunderstandings about the matchmaking mechanism. The so-called “aggression-based matchmaking” is misleading to players. It doesn't actually match players based on skill or equipment. It's essentially a weighted scoring system based on player behavior, designed to influence the type of opponents you're matched with.
The system tracks behavioral data such as who fires first and who takes damage, but doesn't attempt to determine player intent. For example, if a poorly skilled player attacks you but misses all their shots, and you retaliate in self-defense, the system will only record that you participated in a player-versus-player combat and achieved a kill.
This system provides players with a way to adjust their gaming experience. If you want to be in matches with fewer player-versus-player combat, the most effective way is to completely refrain from participating in any player-versus-player combat for a period of time. Conversely, players who actively seek out player-versus-player combat are more likely to be matched with similar players.
The development team acknowledges that the current system is still somewhat imperfect, but they will continue to upgrade it. The team is collecting a large amount of data, monitoring match health and player feedback, and will continuously adjust and optimize it accordingly.
The ARC Raiders development team has always been very fast at updating, and this is the first update of 2026. You may see an update comparable to Cold Snap go live within a month.
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