Embark's Latest Update for Arc Raiders Nerfs a Key PvE Grenade, Sparking Player Backlash

The Shrouded Sky update for Arc Raiders has arrived, but instead of excitement over Hurricanes and fresh cosmetics, the community is buzzing about a significant nerf to one of the top PvE grenades. When developer Embark Studios released the detailed patch notes for version 1.17.0 earlier today, players expected to dive into new content like playable pianos and beard cosmetics. However, they also discovered that the studio behind this hit multiplayer game had increased the crafting requirements for an iconic tool: the Wolfpack grenade.

According to the Shrouded Sky patch notes, the Wolfpack—a throwable device that unleashes homing explosives on Arc enemies—now requires a Rocketeer Driver to craft. Players must now gather this component along with two Arc motion cores and an explosive compound just to make a single Wolfpack. This change is part of broader adjustments to resource requirements, with Arc components also added to recipes for items like the Deadline mine, Trailblazer, Showstopper, and Vita Spray. Yet, it's the Wolfpack tweak that has Raiders up in arms, primarily because Rocketeer Drivers are notoriously rare and difficult to obtain. The most reliable way to secure one is by defeating a Rocketeer, a task that currently demands two Wolfpacks to complete.

While some players see the change as reasonable given the previous recipe's leniency, much of the online community is already voicing frustration. On Reddit, one user quipped, "Let me just kill a rocketeer to get 1 wolfpack that can half kill another rocketeer." Another replied, "I don’t even want the blueprint anymore," and a X/Twitter user added, "First time I’ve said this but if they keep going in this direction people will stop playing. It’s hard enough to gather some of these resources."

The Wolfpack grenade, which can't target other players but excels at clearing hordes of small Arc and dismantling armor on larger foes like the Matriarch, Queen, Leaper, and Bastion, is a go-to PvE tool for Raiders. The math behind needing two Wolfpacks to kill a single Rocketeer has fans questioning Embark's decision-making. Amid concerns about the increased grind for crafting materials in update 1.17.0, some players are offering suggestions to address the issue. One proposed, "If rocketeers start consistently dropping more than 1x driver, we can talk," while another added, "They need to up the drop odds on drivers. Right now you’re lucky if you get two. Make two the base with higher odds of 3+. Otherwise wolfpacks will basically just be used when looted on the map."

As some call for more rewarding Rocketeer loot and reduced Wolfpack requirements, others are still exploring all that Shrouded Sky has to offer. Launched today in February, this update focuses on map changes for Dam Battlegrounds and introduces new threats like the Firefly and Comet Arc. In a recent interview with IGN, Embark CEO Patrick Söderlund shared insights into the studio's plans to build on Arc Raiders in the coming months. He discussed how the game's success has bolstered the team's confidence and highlighted Embark's approach to responding to player feedback.