patch_notes · 2026-07-20
ARC Raiders Patch Notes Explained: Hotfix 1.36.1
ARC Raiders update today explained: Hotfix 1.36.1 fixes duplication and Expedition UI bugs, plus what players should do now.
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ARC Raiders Patch Notes Explained: Hotfix 1.36.1
Quick Answer: ARC Raiders update today refers to Hotfix 1.36.1, a cross-platform patch from July 9, 2026 that fixed a duplication exploit and corrected an Expedition screen UI bug. Restart the game to download it.
TL;DR change summary
Hotfix 1.36.1 shipped on July 9, 2026 and focused on two urgent fixes: a duplication issue and an Expedition UI bug that incorrectly displayed Skill Points instead of Mystery Rewards for players on their fourth Expedition. The patch was deployed on all platforms, and Embark also reiterated that accounts benefiting significantly from exploits can still face bans. Source
This is not a content-heavy balance patch, so if you were expecting a new map, weapon set, or major progression rework, that is not what went live in this arc raiders update today. Instead, this is the kind of maintenance hotfix that protects the economy, preserves fair progression, and removes a UI issue that could mislead players at a key milestone in Expedition play. For broader game context, ARC Raiders is a multiplayer extraction adventure set on a lethal future Earth under a mechanized threat known as ARC. Source
What changed in Hotfix 1.36.1?
The patch primarily targets exploit prevention and interface clarity, with the headline changes limited to bug fixes rather than gameplay tuning. Because the official note is short, the safest read is that Embark prioritized stability and integrity over experimentation.
The confirmed fixes
- A duplication issue was mitigated across all platforms.
- The Expedition screen bug was corrected so fourth-Expedition players now see Mystery Rewards instead of Skill Points.
- Players were instructed to restart the game to download the update.
- The studio warned that significant exploit abuse can lead to bans. Source
That combination matters because duplication bugs can distort the in-game economy far beyond the players who actively use them. Even a small exploit can ripple through progression, trade-equivalent systems, and resource scarcity in a live-service extraction game, so a fast hotfix is usually the right call.
Winners: who got buffed or benefited?
The biggest winners are honest players, Expedition runners, and anyone who cares about a healthier economy. There are no direct weapon buffs or class buffs here, but the patch still creates positive outcomes by removing unfair advantages and cleaning up progression visibility.
Who comes out ahead
- Legitimate grinders benefit because duplication exploits are less able to distort farm value.
- Fourth Expedition players now get accurate UI feedback on Mystery Rewards, reducing confusion at a high-stakes progression checkpoint.
- Competitive and co-op lobbies benefit indirectly when exploit abuse is curbed and ban enforcement is reinforced.
- New and returning players get a cleaner baseline when they log back in after the hotfix.
This matters in a game with substantial progression investment. For example, HowLongToBeat currently lists roughly 38.43 hours for the main story, 73.74 hours with extras, and 157.95 hours for completion. Source A patch that protects long-form progression has a real impact on how rewarding that time feels.
Why the UI fix is a real quality-of-life win
The Expedition screen bug was not just cosmetic. If the interface showed Skill Points where Mystery Rewards should appear, players could make decisions based on false information. In a progression system, that kind of error can affect whether you keep pushing, reset, or route resources elsewhere. Fixing it makes the reward track readable again.
Losers: what got nerfed or removed?
The main losers are exploit users, duplication abusers, and any account that had been gaining a significant advantage through unintended behavior. No guns, movement options, or loot tables were officially nerfed in this patch.
What was effectively hit
- Duplication methods were targeted and should be considered unreliable or dead after the hotfix.
- Exploit-driven progression lost its edge, especially if it depended on item multiplication or economy abuse.
- Accounts with major exploit gains are at increased enforcement risk based on the studio’s ban warning.
In practical terms, this is a “nerf” to illegitimate resource inflation. If you were stockpiling materials or consumables through a glitch, you should assume that route is no longer worth relying on. The patch does not appear to remove legitimate farming, but it does make exploit-based shortcuts a bad bet.
What should players do starting today?
You should restart the game, check your Expedition screen, and stop using any method that looks even remotely like duplication or economy abuse. This hotfix is less about changing your build and more about changing your habits.
Immediate player action items
- Restart the game so the patch can download and apply properly.
- Review your Expedition progress if you are on your fourth Expedition, since the reward display bug was specifically fixed there.
- Avoid questionable item loops or duplication-adjacent behavior; enforcement has been explicitly mentioned.
- Re-evaluate your farming route if it relied on glitches rather than intended drops or extraction timing.
- Keep an eye on official notes for follow-up balance changes, since maintenance hotfixes often precede larger tuning passes.
If you are looking for more practical help after this arc raiders update today, it is a good moment to revisit your general extraction checklist and arc raiders skill tree build on efficient resource runs. You do not need to respec for this patch, because no skill tree or combat system changes were announced. But you may want to re-sort your stash and clean out any items you suspect were obtained through a now-patched method.
Why this hotfix matters for the current meta
Hotfix 1.36.1 is small on paper but meaningful in a live extraction game because trust in the economy is part of the meta. When players think duplication is active, they play differently: they hoard less carefully, value loot less accurately, and may assume everyone else is already cheating. Removing that pressure helps normalize the game loop.
The broader reception context also suggests ARC Raiders has strong momentum. Metacritic currently aggregates a critic Metascore of 86/100 across 65 professional reviews. Source That does not describe this patch directly, but it helps explain why even a modest hotfix matters: when a game is in a strong state, preserving that quality becomes part of the update strategy.
Steam-side engagement also shows a healthy live population. A Steambase snapshot records 38,670 current players and an all-time peak of 481,966, while ProtonDB currently classifies the game as platinum and Steam Deck status as verified. Source Source In a game with that level of activity, a fast exploit fix is not just housekeeping; it is preventative maintenance for a large active audience.
Sources
- https://steamstore-a.akamaihd.net/news/externalpost/steam_community_announcements/1836506165583167
- https://store.steampowered.com/app/1808500/
- https://howlongtobeat.com/?q=ARC%20Raiders
- https://www.metacritic.com/game/arc-raiders
- https://api.steambase.io/games/1808500
- https://www.protondb.com/app/1808500