Arc Raiders’ January Update 1.12.0 is a small patch on paper, but it goes straight at problems that have been undermining matches since launch: duplication exploits, damage through solid cover, and out-of-bounds glitches on Stella Montis.
Arc Raiders 1.12.0 release timing and download
Update 1.12.0 went live on January 20, 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. The patch arrived alongside the latest store rotation and requires a client restart to download and apply.
On Steam, the update weighs in at roughly 600 MB, which reflects its narrow focus on bug fixes rather than new content.
Arc Raiders 1.12.0 patch notes (January Update)
The official January Update 1.12.0 patch notes on the Arc Raiders site list four gameplay changes:
- Item duplication exploit fixed. A bug that allowed players to clone items has been removed.
- Ammo duplication exploit fixed. A separate issue that let players duplicate ammunition is also resolved.
- Damage through geometry reduced. Some cases where players could hit enemies through walls or other map geometry have been fixed.
- Stella Montis out-of-bounds spots closed. Multiple locations on the Stella Montis map that let players leave the intended play space have been corrected.
These changes line up with long‑running complaints from players who were running into glitched opponents and lopsided firefights across both PvP and PvPvE raids.
Why duplication exploits were such a problem
Item and ammo duplication exploits cut directly against the extraction shooter loop that Arc Raiders is built on. Risking valuable gear and resources is supposed to be the tension that drives every trip to the surface. When a subset of players can clone rare loot or effectively generate infinite ammunition, several things happen:
- Raid prep and progression lose meaning because high‑end items are no longer scarce.
- Encounters skew toward players abusing the exploit, especially in longer firefights.
- The in‑game economy, including Raider Tokens and cosmetic bundles, is harder to balance over time.
By hardening the backend against these duplication methods, Update 1.12.0 helps restore the expected risk‑reward curve. Legitimate players no longer have to assume every heavily kitted squad is leaning on a loophole.
Fixing damage from behind geometry
Another recurring frustration in Arc Raiders has been taking damage from angles that should be safe. The patch note calls out “some cases” of players damaging others from behind geometry, which can cover several issues:
- Projectiles or hitscan traces clipping through walls, rocks, or props.
- Misaligned collision on map assets that visually look solid but do not fully block damage.
- Edge‑case angles from elevated positions where bullets can sneak through seams.
Closing down these cases makes cover more trustworthy. When you commit to a push, hold a corner, or retreat behind a container, the outcome should be determined by positioning and timing, not by invisible gaps in the level mesh.
Stella Montis out-of-bounds fixes
Stella Montis has been a standout PvP hotspot since it arrived in late 2025, but it has also been one of the most controversial maps in the rotation. Players regularly found ways to clip through geometry, then move outside the intended play area.
From those unintended perches, it was possible to:
- Skip contested zones entirely and bypass firefights.
- Shoot at unsuspecting players from angles that were almost impossible to counter.
- Hide with loot in positions that other squads could not legitimately reach.
Update 1.12.0 addresses “various out of bounds map locations” on Stella Montis. In practice that means patching the holes in the level where players could slip through, tightening collision on rock faces and buildings, and removing or reworking ledges that allowed players to climb over invisible walls.
For anyone queueing into Stella Montis, that should translate into fewer one‑sided deaths from nowhere and more fights that play out inside the space the map was actually designed for.
What the 1.12.0 update does not change
The January patch is intentionally narrow. It does not introduce new weapons, events, or enemies, and it does not touch the wider balance changes that arrived earlier in the month. Those adjustments, delivered in Update 1.11.0, already hit standout tools like the Trigger Nade and the Kettle and reshaped dominant loadouts.
Update 1.12.0 also does not mention broader stability issues such as voice chat problems that some players have been reporting since the Cold Snap winter event. Those remain separate from the fixes listed here.
How this patch fits into Arc Raiders’ 2026 roadmap
Embark Studios has signaled a multi‑track approach for Arc Raiders in 2026. On one track are larger updates: new maps with different sizes and flow, more raid conditions, and quality‑of‑life features such as persistent loadout saves and improved social spaces in Speranza.
On the other track are focused hotfixes and small patches like 1.12.0 that exist mainly to keep exploits and technical issues from eroding trust in the game’s core loop. Addressing cheating methods, map escapes, and broken collision early in the year gives the broader roadmap a more solid foundation.
For now, January Update 1.12.0 is about cleaning up the most abusable edges of Arc Raiders rather than redefining it. If you bounced off Stella Montis because of wall glitches or were tired of running into players with seemingly endless gear, this patch is designed to make jumping back in feel fairer.
