You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here
Embark has released a new update for Arc Raiders. While the 1.11.0 patch notes are brief, the update is notable for nerfing the Kettle assault rifle. As part of the same update, Embark is gifting players a Gilded Pickaxe Raider Tool to celebrate the game surpassing 12 million copies sold.
The free Gilded Pickaxe Raider Tool is available to anyone who logged into Arc Raiders between its October 30, 2025, launch and January 13 at 3PM PST / 6PM EDT / 11PM GMT.
Similar to the 1,000 free Tokens that also expire on January 13, players should be able to claim the Pickaxe by checking their in-game mailbox via the mail icon. Raider Tools function as melee weapons in Arc Raiders, consuming stamina and dealing 25 damage per hit.
As for the Kettle nerf, Embark has reduced the weapon’s fire rate from 600 to 450. The Kettle is a semi-automatic assault rifle that uses light ammo. In the patch notes, Embark explains that the higher fire rate was “only realistically reachable by players using macros,” which created an “unfair dynamic that favours using 3rd party software”.
Arc Raiders update 1.11.0 patch notes
Below are the full patch notes for Arc Raiders update 1.11.0:
- Kettle
- Dev note: Reduced fire rate from 600 to 450. The previous fire rate was only realistically reachable by players using macros, which creates an unfair dynamic that favours using 3rd party software.
- Trigger ’Nade
- Dev note: Trigger ’Nade currently dominates PvP encounters, with players favoring it over all other grenades. This nerf aims to make it less effective as a “trigger-in-air” grenade while maintaining its usefulness as a sticky bomb. Damage falloff has been rebalanced to concentrate damage closer to the explosion’s center and deal less damage at longer ranges. The delay between triggering the grenade and detonation has been increased from 0.7 seconds to 1.5 seconds, giving players more time to react and making aerial detonations harder to time.
- Fixed a keycard exploit that allowed players to retain room keys after use.
- Lighting has been reduced in some areas of Stella Montis Night Raid, making flashlights and audio cues more relevant.
Embark previously teased nerfs to both the Kettle and the Trigger ’Nade, along with “significant changes” aimed at addressing the game’s growing cheater problem. These updates are expected to roll out “over the next few weeks” and include improvements to anti-cheat detection and bans, as well as client-side fixes specifically targeting the “out of map” glitch.
Reaching more than 12 million sales is a major milestone for Arc Raiders, particularly as the game continues to retain over 90% of its all-time peak player count on Steam. Its success has drawn attention beyond the games industry, with Embark’s CEO revealing offers to adapt Arc Raiders into a film or television series.
About the Author
