Developer Embark Studios has deployed Patch 1.20.0 for its free-to-play shooter ARC Raiders, directly addressing player feedback regarding an overpowered weapon and a skewed in-game economy. The update significantly nerfs the Il Toro shotgun’s effectiveness at range and reduces the selling price of crafted Energy Clips from 1000 to 200 coins. This balancing act aims to improve competitive play and correct an unintended lucrative market exploit that emerged after a prior update.
Key Takeaways:
- Weapon Rebalance: The Il Toro shotgun receives major adjustments to pellet damage, dispersion, fire rate, and reload time to reduce its dominance.
- Economic Correction: The sell price of Energy Clips plummets by 80% to 200 coins, closing a profitable crafting loophole.
- New Customization: The patch adds the Rawhide Outfit and two new hairstyles for player characters.
- Future Content: Embark Studios confirms a new map and a large-scale ARC enemy will be introduced in a major update this April.
Il Toro Shotgun Receives Comprehensive Nerf
Patch 1.20.0 targets the Il Toro, a weapon criticized for its excessive effectiveness, particularly at longer ranges when equipped with a choke. Developer notes state the changes are designed to make the shotgun "perform more like a weapon of its rarity," increasing its dependency on upgrades and player positioning. Specific nerfs include increasing the reload time from 4.3 to 5.7 seconds and reducing overall damage per second.
Energy Clip Crafting Profitability Sharply Declines
A secondary focus of the update corrects an economic imbalance. Following a previous change, crafting and selling Energy Clips had become an unintentionally high-reward activity. Embark Studios has now slashed their vendor sell price from 1000 to just 200 coins. This drastic reduction aims to normalize the in-game economy and shift player focus away from exploiting this single crafting recipe for profit.
Balancing Fixes Set Stage for Major April Expansion
Beyond immediate balance changes, the patch fixes several bugs, including audio issues related to destroyed Comets and collision problems on maps. Embark Studios also used the update notes to tease forthcoming content, signaling that these adjustments lay the groundwork for a more substantial game update planned for next month, which will introduce the first new map since the Stella Montis region was added.
Sources
https://arcraiders.com/news/patch-notes-1-20-0
https://www.trueachievements.com/news/arc-raiders-update-1-20-0-patch-notes
