According to XDA-Developers, Arc Raiders is barely three weeks old and already making massive balance changes that have split the player base. The game, which has been constantly in Steam’s top-five concurrent player count games with millions playing, just nerfed XP gain rates, Security Breach loot quality, and key weapons like the Venator pistol and Hullcracker. These changes mean players now need to destroy more ARC enemies and loot more to progress at the same rate they did before. The Security Breach ability, which previously guaranteed purple-tier weapons after reaching level 37, now offers significantly worse loot. Unsurprisingly, these adjustments have created widespread dissatisfaction among players who were enjoying the game’s fast progression system.
Why nerfs actually help
Here’s the thing – I think these nerfs are probably the best thing that could happen to Arc Raiders long-term. The game was progressing at breakneck speed, with players potentially running out of meaningful content within the first month. At the original pace, everyone would have Security Breach ability and purple weapons galore, completely eliminating that precious loot anxiety that makes extraction shooters so compelling. Basically, if nobody cares about losing their gear, the entire risk-reward dynamic collapses. And let’s be real – we want this game to last more than a few weeks, right?
The solo player problem
Now, I get why solo players are particularly upset. The Hullcracker nerf makes taking down Queen ARCs twice as difficult when you’re flying solo. But in trios? That same weapon was making content trivial. The XP and loot changes disproportionately affect solo players who can’t share blueprints or coordinate Security Breach farming like teams can. So while it feels punishing for those going it alone, the math actually makes sense for game balance. The reality is extraction shooters have always struggled with solo vs team balance – this is just Arc Raiders facing that same challenge head-on.
Bigger issues still loom
Meanwhile, there are way more pressing problems that Embark should probably focus on. Players are exploiting locked doors by clipping through walls, creating unfair ambush scenarios. De-sync issues still mean you can get shot while completely behind cover. The stash system needs work, and the crafting UI could be smoother. Hundreds of thousands of players are apparently sitting on valuable keys right now, afraid to use them because of these exploits. When you’ve got game-breaking bugs like that, does tweaking weapon balance really deserve the spotlight?
Long-term thinking
Look, I’m 90 hours deep into Arc Raiders myself, and I’ve only collected 43% of the blueprints. Every new find still gets my heart racing. That’s exactly how an extraction shooter should feel. The alternative? A game that burns bright for a month then fades into obscurity because everyone exhausted the content. Embark isn’t trying to stop us from having fun – they’re trying to keep us engaged for the long haul. And honestly, I’d rather play a game that lasts years than one that dominates Twitch for three weeks then disappears. These nerfs might sting now, but a year from now? We probably won’t even remember the controversy.
