ARC Raiders Patch 1.23.0 is now live, and while this is not a massive content drop, it does bring a welcome mix of cosmetics and meaningful gameplay fixes. The headline addition is the new Vanguard Set in the shop, but the bigger story for active players is the cleanup work happening underneath. Embark has addressed several frustrating issues tied to Trigger ’Nades, shoulder swapping, unintended weapon firing, map problems, and parts of the Close Scrutiny experience.
ARC Raiders Patch 1.23.0 is live now
Embark officially rolled out ARC Raiders Patch 1.23.0 on April 8, 2026, and told players to restart their game client to download the update. According to the official patch notes, the update adds the armor-clad Vanguard Set to the shop and includes a broad list of fixes across gameplay, maps, UI, and the Close Scrutiny event content.
That means this patch is less about reinventing the game and more about smoothing out the rough edges that can make extraction shooters feel annoying from one run to the next. In a game like ARC Raiders, even small mechanical bugs can snowball into lost gear, unfair fights, or awkward encounters, so patches like this usually matter more than they first appear. The notes show Embark targeting exactly those kinds of problems here.
The Vanguard Set leads the update
The most visible addition in Patch 1.23.0 is the Vanguard Set. Embark has not framed it as a major gameplay feature, but it is clearly the cosmetic centerpiece of this update and the first thing many players will notice after logging back in. If you like the heavier armored look, this is the standout addition in an otherwise fix-focused patch.
Cosmetics alone rarely carry an update, though, and that is probably why this patch will be judged more by how it improves actual matches. The good news is that several of the listed fixes address issues players are far more likely to feel moment to moment while looting, fighting, and trying to extract.
Trigger ’Nades and auto-firing issues get fixed
One of the biggest gameplay fixes in ARC Raiders Patch 1.23.0 deals with Trigger ’Nades. Embark says it fixed an issue where two Trigger ’Nades detonating next to each other could sometimes deal triple damage. That kind of bug can completely throw off combat balance, so bringing those explosives back in line should make encounters feel much fairer.
The patch also fixes an issue that caused weapons and items to fire automatically, along with another bug where items would not be used as soon as possible when players held fire and swapped to them. These are exactly the sort of weird input problems that can make a gunfight feel broken rather than tense, so seeing them addressed is a pretty important win for regular players.
Shoulder swap and weapon handling feel cleaner
Another notable fix in the patch targets shoulder swapping. Embark says it resolved an issue where the camera would stay on only one side. That might sound minor on paper, but in a third-person shooter, camera side and visibility can directly affect peeking, movement, and how comfortable gunfights feel.
There is also a fix for an exploit involving the anvil splitter being used without the intended dispersion penalty, and barricades can no longer be placed on ziplines. Together, those changes suggest Embark is still keeping a close eye on cheesy or unintended interactions that can create an advantage for players abusing them.
Map fixes should remove some frustrating deaths
Patch 1.23.0 also cleans up several map-related issues. On Stella Montis, Embark fixed a problem where players could get set on fire outside the locked room in Medical Research, and another spot where players could be shot through the floor. In Buried City, some missing staircases have been fixed as well.
On top of that, the patch resolves instances where the code printer could not be interacted with during Locked Gate. These are the sort of location-specific problems that can wreck a run when they happen, so while they may not be flashy patch note items, they are the kind of fixes the community usually appreciates fast.
Close Scrutiny gets more polish
Embark also spent a good chunk of this update cleaning up Close Scrutiny. The patch changes movement speed for Rocketeers and Vaporizers so they no longer behave strangely while idling, fixes cases where reconnected players could not see Assessor platforms correctly, and resolves issues with Vaporizers getting stuck near an Assessor.
There are more fixes here, too. Embark says it corrected a bug that could prevent an Assessor from flying back into orbit, fixed a problem where breach platforms could break when players spammed Breach and Search prompts, and made sure ARC summoned by the Assessor will now leave and despawn properly if they stay idle too long. Pinging an Assessor on the map screen should now reflect its actual location, and players should no longer get stuck while jumping between Assessor platforms.
That is a pretty decent amount of cleanup for one mode-focused section of a patch, and it shows Embark is still ironing out the more complex event systems introduced in recent updates.
UI and crash-related fixes are included, too
Outside of gameplay, Embark also fixed an issue where the weapon upgrade UI showed incorrect upgrade tiers and another bug that caused fully transparent helmet visors. The studio further noted that some visual effects-related crashes have been fixed, though it also said it is still investigating all crash cases.
That last part is worth paying attention to. It is good that some crash causes have been addressed, but Embark is being pretty clear that stability work is still ongoing. So while Patch 1.23.0 should help, it may not be the final word for players still dealing with technical issues.
ARC Raiders Patch 1.23.0 is a solid maintenance update
Overall, ARC Raiders Patch 1.23.0 looks like a strong maintenance patch. The Vanguard Set gives the update a bit of style, but the real value is in the bug fixes. Trigger ’Nades have been toned back into a more reasonable state, unintended firing issues are gone, shoulder swap problems have been resolved, and several map and Close Scrutiny bugs have been cleaned up.
It is not the kind of patch that completely changes the game overnight, but it is the kind of patch that can make the next few sessions feel noticeably less frustrating.
