ARC Raiders Update 2.3 is Live - Noxious Set + Souls Offering Project

[Ephraim]

Live Update 2.3.0 for ARC Raiders went live on October 27 across all platforms - PC, PS5, and Xbox. This update introduces the Noxious Set cosmetic collection, a new player-focused event called Souls Offering, and a wide range of adjustments to equipment and maps. Embark Studios has also recalibrated its update cadence: moving forward, patches and fixes will return to a three-week cycle, while the in-game store will continue to receive weekly updates.

Souls Offering

Souls Offering is the centerpiece of this ARC Raiders update. Celeste calls upon the members of Speranza to pause and honor the Raiders who made the ultimate sacrifice on the "topside" - a tribute that every participating player can share in.

Running from October 27 to November 16, the event unfolds in four distinct phases, with the final stage requiring players to set off fireworks on the rooftops of the Santa Maria Houses. Each player's contribution is unique, and participating allows you to progress through the event while earning exclusive rewards. It is a classic community-driven activity, making it an ideal experience to tackle with your regular squad.

Noxious Set and Equipment Adjustments

The Noxious Set has arrived in the in-game store. Regarding equipment stats, the Heavy Shield's base charge has been increased from 80 to 90. The Flame Spray now deals 13 damage per second (up from 10), and its durability consumption has been halved, significantly improving the sustainability of "flamethrower" playstyles.

The Firefly Burner has been reworked: it now ignites targets upon impact, leaves a trail of fire while in flight, and explodes after approximately three seconds. The Adrenaline Shot can now be used even when stamina is full; however, its effects do not stack - subsequent uses will simply refresh the duration.

Blueprint Drop Adjustments

Perhaps the most significant change in this ARC Raiders update concerns blueprint drops. Blueprints for the Dolabra, Bobcat, Equalizer, Jupiter, Tempest, and Vulcano can now drop under any conditions on the open-world map. To maintain balance, the overall drop rates have been slightly adjusted; players looking to collect these sought-after ARC Raiders blueprints no longer need to wait for specific weather conditions or times of day.

The drop rate for Emperor Key blueprints from Redirection pods has been reduced. To compensate, these containers now have a small chance to yield ARC parts and high-tier ARC Raiders items. Additionally, an issue where drop rates for Furniture Design items were inverted has been fixed.

Adjustments to the Emperor, Frigate, and Infrastructure

The ARC loot distribution logic has been overhauled. Containers near the entrance of the Emperor now contain lower-tier rewards, while high-value ARC Raiders items are concentrated deeper within the map - significantly reducing the viability of "hit-and-run" tactics focused solely on the entrance area. Similarly, the Frigate's best loot is now located further inside, and you can now detect its arrival from a greater distance using your ping tool.

The Grappling Hook's "extreme launch" bug has been fixed, and it can now be used correctly even while inside a Matriarch's shield. New Color Push and black-and-white filter options have been added to the advanced camera mode. The Expedition Vault has been officially closed; all items have been automatically moved to your stash, and any buyed slots have been compensated with Bronze Statuettes - please check your inventory before the update.

Optimizing Your Loot Runs After the Update

To keep pace with the new version, prioritize the four-stage Souls Offering missions in your weekly schedule, ideally tackling them with a dedicated team. If you are farming for gear, you'll need to adjust your strategy: since high-rarity loot in the Emperor and Frigate is now tucked away in deeper zones, it is better to complete a full run rather than just looting the entrance area. As for blueprints, the fact that all six weapon blueprints can now drop under various conditions offers more flexibility; combined with the increased drop rates for ARC parts, it is now more efficient to assemble your blueprints.

For players with limited time - or those who simply want to experience the new content faster - you can also buy ARC Raiders items directly to fill gaps in your gear or cosmetic collection, allowing you to focus your efforts on the Souls Offering event stages and deep-map runs within the Emperor.