ARC Raiders update 1.42.0 adds new mysteries and better raids

ARC Raiders has been keeping its Rust Belt busy lately. Embark Studios rolled out Update 1.42.0 on August 18, continued the mysterious Phantom Targets storyline, made some welcome gameplay improvements, and then followed it up two days later with something nobody had on their extraction-shooter bingo card: a collaboration with Subway.

The biggest piece of Update 1.42.0 is the second part of the Phantom Targets event. Shani’s investigation has now traced the strange signals to Wasps acting very differently from normal. They are making unusual noises, flying erratically, carrying unidentified technology and gathering around the same mysterious location. Players can continue investigating through a new Raider Project, with the Anomalia Outfit among the rewards.

Raids should feel a little better now

The update is not just about chasing suspicious flying machines. Embark has introduced Regional Map Condition Scheduling, meaning events are now shifted around peak playtimes in different regions instead of following one global schedule. That should make it much easier to actually experience certain conditions without planning your evening around an in-game timetable.

Several annoying problems have also been cleaned up. Queen and Matriarch stomp attacks should no longer hit through walls or from ridiculous distances, the Photoelectric Cloak now protects against Turbine lightning and Matriarch missiles, and Quick Wheel slots can finally be rebound. Footstep audio, crashes and memory efficiency have received work too.

Embark is also continuing its anti-cheat push, saying recent improvements made alongside Anybrain and Denuvo Anti-Cheat have already resulted in action against a large number of cheating accounts.

Never raid hungry, apparently

Then there is ARC Raiders x Subway, which might be the strangest addition of the week — and that is saying something in a game full of murderous robots.

Running from August 20 until October 26 at participating Subway locations in the United States, the promotion gives players a code after buying a qualifying meal. Redeeming it unlocks the exclusive Subterranean Outfit, one of three Subway-themed outfit variants and two bonus in-game items that rotate weekly. Codes work on PC, PlayStation and Xbox.

Meanwhile, all of this is happening ahead of Frozen Trail, arriving October 8. Embark calls it its biggest update since launch, with Outposts, Skill Tree changes, improved Raider Decks, new weapons, gadgets and more on the way.

There is clearly plenty happening Topside. If the latest changes have you thinking about joining the hunt, use our price comparison tool to find the best prices for ARC Raiders and get geared up before your next extraction.