Arc Raiders Design Lead Confirms Embark Is About Make Trigger Nades Much Harder to Use, and Nerf Kettle Insta-Kills Too: “you Can’t Have IT Leave Y…

Embark Studios Announces Upcoming Balance Patch for Arc Raiders

Arc Raiders, the latest third-person shooter developed by Embark Studios, is set to receive a significant balance patch on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. According to Virgil Watkins, design lead at Embark Studios, this update will address two of the game’s most contentious issues: the Kettle rifle and Trigger Nades.

Addressing the Kettle Rifle Concerns

The Kettle rifle has been a lightning rod for criticism due to its ability to deal massive damage quickly. Speaking with GamesRadar+, Watkins explained that the update will reduce the fire rate cap of the Kettle, making it less exploitable by players who can trigger rapid-fire shots. “We even saw videos of people doing it manually,” Watkins said. “But yeah, it is really just that we lowered its max possible fire rate.”

Reining in Trigger Nades

Trigger Nades have been a major concern for the balance of PvP play in Arc Raiders. These grenades are among the most lethal in the game and have often led to imbalanced gameplay. Watkins revealed that the update will adjust the damage falloff curve, requiring players to be more precise when throwing Trigger Nades. “The intent right now is, the damage falloff curve is changing,” he explained. “You have to be a lot more exact to get the full damage.”

Additionally, there will be an adjustment to the triggering time of these grenades, ensuring that they cannot explode immediately upon release. “You can’t have it leave your hand and just blow it up immediately,” Watkins elaborated. “You require a bit more lead time.” These changes aim to make Trigger Nades both more lethal when landed accurately but also more challenging to use in PvP.

Broader Balance Adjustments

In addition to these specific changes, Embark Studios is considering broader adjustments to the rarity and effectiveness of various items in Arc Raiders. Watkins mentioned that they are looking at how the balance spectrum of item rarities fits within the overall game design. “Then we’re taking a look more widely at the band of where it sits on the rarity spectrum,” he said. “What does it cost to make or maintain using these things versus the effective output of them, and shuffling those things a little bit.”

These adjustments are part of an ongoing effort by Embark Studios to keep Arc Raiders balanced and enjoyable for all players, addressing some early pain points in the game’s meta. “That’s what we’re looking at in a wider scheme,” Watkins concluded.

Expert Analysis

The upcoming balance patch for Arc Raiders is seen as a significant step towards improving the player experience. Austin Wood, Senior Writer at GamesRadar+, notes that these changes could mark an encouraging response to some early issues players faced. “These sound like elegant changes – an encouraging response to some early pain points for the game’s meta,” he wrote.

Conclusion

Arc Raiders is set to undergo a significant overhaul with its upcoming balance patch, addressing the most contentious aspects of gameplay: the Kettle rifle and Trigger Nades. Embark Studios’ design lead, Virgil Watkins, has confirmed that these changes will mitigate the issues surrounding these items while maintaining their core functionalities. As players eagerly await the update, they can look forward to a more balanced and engaging experience.