Shrouded Sky Update: Patch 1.17.0 Notes & Changes

The latest update brings a tempest of change to the game, introducing a fierce new Hurricane map condition that transforms combat with low visibility, powerful winds, and dangerous flying debris. Scouts report two new ARC enemy types now roaming the Rust Belt, demanding fresh tactics from every Raider. Alongside this chaotic weather, a seasonal Weather Monitoring System project offers new objectives, while a free Raider Deck, updated Dam Battlegrounds map, and new Expedition window provide more ways to play. Personalization also gets a boost with new facial hair customization options.

This patch focuses heavily on refining the combat experience through targeted weapon balancing. The development team addressed a lingering issue with weapon input buffers that unintentionally made semi-automatic weapons too forgiving. Adjustments now make these guns more responsive to rapid firing while still rewarding players who master a weapon’s intended firing rhythm. Significant balance changes target the Stitcher, Kettle, Venator, Jupiter, and Aphelion to better define their roles and adjust time-to-kill values.

For the Stitcher, the goal was to reduce its lethality in close-quarters ambushes. Its headshot multiplier drops from 2.5 to 1.75, base damage decreases slightly, and per-shot dispersion increases by about 50% to make sustained fire less accurate. The Kettle sees its base damage reduced to distinguish it more from close-range weapons, though it retains a high headshot multiplier to encourage precision. Due to its continued dominance in player-versus-player encounters, the Venator receives a nerf to both its headshot multiplier and base damage.

The Jupiter sniper rifle and Aphelion legendary weapon receive adjustments to improve their usability. The Jupiter gets better ADS magnification and faster equip/unequip times, making target acquisition and weapon swapping smoother. The Aphelion is made more nimble with a reduced reload time, faster rate of fire, less vertical recoil, and a quicker ADS settle speed, aiming to make it more viable in fast-paced PVP.

Beyond weapons, the update introduces numerous quality-of-life improvements and bug fixes. Players can now reroll their daily Feats three times for free, and all PvP-specific Feats have been removed from the pool. The crafting economy sees adjustments, with items like the Deadline, Trailblazer, and Wolfpack receiving increased values and updated material costs. A new Energy clip blueprint is now available by default at the Workbench.

Gameplay receives several key fixes and additions. A new, interactable piano has been added to the world for players to discover. To maintain competitive integrity, a change prevents players from enabling all NVIDIA Freestyle filters simultaneously, removing a potential visual advantage. Several exploits have been closed, including placing ziplines on carryable objects and attaching mines or traps to other deployables. Movement has been polished, with ladder jump-offs now behaving more consistently with vaults to prevent unintended momentum.

The anti-cheat systems have been strengthened with a multi-layered approach. The team employs behavioral analysis, gameplay telemetry, and machine learning to identify unfair play patterns. Enforcement actions have escalated, with serious violations now resulting in permanent bans, while others may lead to a temporary suspension as a first warning. Updates to Family Sharing and a forthcoming manual ban appeal process are part of the ongoing effort to ensure a fair environment.

A vast list of bug fixes addresses issues across animations, audio, maps, and UI. Notable corrections include fixing weapon magazine drop animations, resolving a crash related to zipline traversal, improving lighting on maps like Stella Montis and Blue Gate, and ensuring quest objectives display correctly. The update also brings new cosmetic sets, the Volare Set, the Surgeon Set, and the soon-to-arrive Devotee Set, alongside general performance optimizations.

(Source: Arc Raiders)