arc raiders patch notes jan 20th: Patch Notes Explained for Store Update 1.40.0

Quick Answer: The arc raiders patch notes jan 20th query points to the latest public update context for ARC Raiders: Store Update 1.40.0, which added two Volare outfit color variants and the Phantom Targets event, while also flagging a Queen and Matriarch stomp-damage fix as in progress.

The update context below is anchored to Store Update 1.40.0 on 2026-08-04, and this breakdown focuses on what actually shipped, what was only acknowledged, and what you should change in your routine now.

TL;DR: what shipped in this patch

Store Update 1.40.0 is a small but meaningful content drop that adds cosmetic variety and a live event, while also confirming ongoing work on a combat bug affecting the Queen and Matriarch. The clearest shipped additions are two new Volare outfit color variants—black and yellow—plus the brand new event Phantom Targets. On the fix side, the developers explicitly say the Queen and Matriarch stomp damage going through walls and from too far away is being investigated, but that correction is not part of the current live patch yet.

For players scanning the arc raiders patch notes jan 20th-style headlines, the big takeaway is that this is not a sweeping balance pass. It is closer to a focused store-and-event update with a bug-fix note attached. That matters because it changes what you should expect from your next session: you are getting a cosmetic refresh and a new event loop, but not a full rebalance of the extraction meta. If you were waiting for a weapon overhaul, a traversal redesign, or a broad progression tuning pass, this is not that kind of patch.

There is also a useful documentation angle here. ARC Raiders patch notes are the public record of updates and patches for the game, and the 1.12.0 Patch Notes page is explicitly described as a comprehensive breakdown with a link to the full notes on Steam Community. That means this update exists in a broader patch-note trail rather than as an isolated one-off, so it should be read alongside the game’s earlier maintenance and content beats rather than treated as a soft relaunch. Source Source

Two grounded data points help put this patch in context. ARC Raiders currently sits at a Metascore of 86/100 across 65 professional reviews on Metacritic, and Steam’s review summary reads “Very Positive” (82.5% positive) across 411570 reviews. Source Source That is the backdrop this patch lands in: a well-received shooter with enough audience momentum that even a modest event update is worth reading closely.

Winners: who got buffed, added, or improved

The biggest winners in Store Update 1.40.0 are cosmetic players, event chasers, and anyone who likes fresh reasons to log in without relearning the whole game. The patch’s only clearly stated new content is the Phantom Targets event, and the only explicitly named additions to existing gear are the black and yellow color variants for the Volare outfit. Even though those are not combat buffs in the strict sense, they are still a real gain for players who value customization, identity, and limited-time event participation.

New content: Phantom Targets

Phantom Targets is the headline addition, and it is the only new event named in the update excerpt. The patch notes do not give a full ruleset in the supplied context, so the safest factual read is simple: it is a brand new event layer added on top of the current game. That means the winner here is any player who enjoys checking back in for rotating or time-sensitive content, especially if your usual loop is built around chasing objectives, extracting safely, and optimizing route efficiency rather than grinding the same run repeatedly.

Because the context does not specify rewards, the best practical interpretation is to treat Phantom Targets as a “show up and inspect immediately” event. In live-service terms, any event can alter routing, extraction timing, and team priorities even before the reward table is fully known. If you usually play solo, a new event can also change how often you risk peak-population zones, because event hubs tend to pull more Raiders into the same spaces. If you play in a duo or trio, a new event often becomes the kind of thing you schedule a first-night run around.

Cosmetic winners: Volare outfit variants

The other clear winners are players who care about cosmetics, screenshots, and squad identity. Store Update 1.40.0 adds two new colour variants for the Volare outfit: black and yellow. That is concrete, direct content, and it matters more than it sounds because cosmetic variants in extraction games are part status symbol, part readability tool, and part personal style.

Here’s the update impact at a glance:

Added content	What changed	Why players care
Volare outfit	Added black variant	Gives a darker, more tactical look
Volare outfit	Added yellow variant	Gives a high-visibility, standout look
Phantom Targets	New event added	Creates a fresh reason to log in and test routes

If you already own or plan to buy the Volare outfit, this is the kind of patch that directly increases its value. A single skin with multiple variants is more flexible than a one-and-done cosmetic, especially in games where visibility can matter in tense encounters. The black version is the obvious “blend in” choice, while the yellow version is the “make a statement” pick. Neither changes stats, but both change how your Raider presents in a squad or in clips.

Meta winners: players who benefit from lighter patches

There is also a subtle winner category here: players who prefer patches that do not destabilize the meta. The supplied note only says the patch is bringing “a small number of fixes to improve game performance, balance, and stability.” That kind of wording usually means less turbulence for current loadouts and fewer forced reroutes for serious players. If you have already invested in a favorite build, a small patch is often the best patch because it is less likely to invalidate your muscle memory.

ARC Raiders is still a multiplayer extraction adventure set in a lethal future Earth ravaged by ARC, and its official Steam description emphasizes that danger-first identity. Source The patch therefore mostly benefits players who want the game to stay sharp and stable while they continue to run the same core loop. This is especially true if you are chasing long-form progress: HowLongToBeat currently reports 38.43 hours for the main story, 73.74 hours with extras, and 157.95 hours for completion. Source Those figures imply a game with enough runtime that “small” updates still matter, because a tiny content bump can influence dozens of future sessions.

Why these additions matter in practice

The practical impact of this patch is that it gives you a reason to revisit your usual habits without forcing a rebuild. New event content can shift extraction traffic, new cosmetics can affect squad clarity, and light performance work can improve the feel of a repeat run. If you are the kind of player who likes to mark first impressions, this is a patch to sample immediately, then reassess your route choices after one or two sessions.

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Losers: what got nerfed, removed, or weakened

There are no explicitly listed nerfs or removals in the provided Store Update 1.40.0 context, and that is important to say clearly. The patch does not name a weapon balance reduction, a removed activity, a cut questline, or a deleted reward path. The only negative or limiting note in the update is that the Queen and Matriarch stomp-damage issue is still being investigated and a fix is in the works. In other words, the “loser” category here is less about a direct nerf and more about an unresolved combat bug that continues to affect encounter fairness.

What is not in the patch

The context does not confirm any of the following:

• A weapon nerf
• An ARC enemy stat reduction
• A loot pool removal
• A progression rollback
• A vendor price increase
• A squad-size adjustment

That matters because patch-note reading can easily become assumption-heavy. In this case, the safest reading is that the update is mostly additive, not subtractive. If you were hoping for a large-scale tuning pass, this is not the note set that supports that conclusion. The patch mentions fixes to performance, balance, and stability in broad terms, but it does not provide concrete combat changes in the supplied text.

The real “loss”: Queen and Matriarch stomp damage bugs

The clearest negative is the ongoing stomp-damage issue involving the Queen and Matriarch. The note says stomp damage is going through walls and reaching too far away, which means players can be punished by attack behavior that does not respect expected line-of-sight or distance boundaries. That is not a nerf to the boss; it is a fairness problem for the player.

In practice, this bug hurts several situations:

• A squad trying to hold cover near a boss arena
• A solo Raider trying to use terrain to break engagement
• A trio rotating around tight interior geometry where stomp pressure should be avoidable

Because the note says a fix is in the works rather than already live, players should continue to treat those fights as especially hazardous. If you have been learning boss timings around these encounters, assume the current behavior can still violate your spacing assumptions.

Indirect losers: players depending on perfect stability

The patch also says it aims to improve performance and stability, which implies there were enough issues to justify this maintenance pass. Without inventing precise error counts or crash rates, the factual read is straightforward: players who were already experiencing friction in the current version are the ones most likely to notice the downside of waiting on a fix cycle. If your squad has been dealing with disconnects, hitching, or odd combat behavior, this patch may help, but the note does not promise a complete cure.

Here is the clearest read on the “loser” side:

Category	Status in this update	Player impact
Weapon balance	No concrete nerf listed	Most loadouts likely stay intact
Content removal	None confirmed	Existing routes remain available
Queen / Matriarch stomp issue	Fix in progress	Boss fights remain potentially inconsistent
Stability issues	Targeted for improvement	Problem areas may improve, but not guaranteed

Why this matters for competitive-minded players

If you track the game as a live-service meta rather than a one-off campaign, the absence of hard nerfs is a form of news. It means your current favorite kit, route, and engagement rhythm probably remain valid until a future patch says otherwise. The “loss,” then, is really uncertainty around unresolved boss behavior and the possibility that some players will still have to work around that issue until the promised fix lands.

What you should do differently starting today

You should adjust your play pattern around the new event, the cosmetic drop, and the still-unfixed boss issue, rather than expecting a full meta reset. Store Update 1.40.0 rewards a simple response: check the event, reassess your boss-fight spacing, and keep your current build unless you were already planning a change. That is the most practical answer for anyone reading arc raiders patch notes jan 20th as a live-update signal instead of a lore dump.

Re-route your first session around Phantom Targets

Your first priority should be to test Phantom Targets immediately. Since the update adds a brand new event but does not describe its reward structure in the supplied context, the smart play is to enter with a scouting mindset. Use your first run to learn where the event tends to pull players, how long it takes to complete, and whether it changes route pressure around your preferred extraction path.

Action items:

• Queue a short session specifically to inspect the event
• Bring a loadout you can afford to lose while learning the event loop
• Compare one solo run and one squad run if you regularly swap modes
• Note whether the event concentrates fights in familiar choke points

This is especially useful if you normally run the same route every session. New events often distort traffic, and even a cosmetic-focused update can alter where people congregate simply because they are logging in to see what changed.

Re-check your Queen and Matriarch fight spacing

You should also treat Queen and Matriarch stomp damage as suspect until the fix is confirmed live. The patch note explicitly says the issue is being worked on, which means the current behavior can still catch you through walls or at distances that should feel safe. That changes how you should approach terrain, cover, and repositioning.

Practical adjustments:

• Avoid assuming a wall fully protects you from stomp pressure
• Give boss encounters more vertical and lateral spacing than usual
• Do not overcommit to corner holds in cramped interiors
• If a fight feels “unfair,” disengage and reset instead of gambling on the next stomp window

This is not a call to stop fighting those bosses altogether. It is a call to stop trusting the geometry too much until the correction lands.

Decide whether the Volare outfit variants are worth your spend

If you own or are considering the Volare outfit, this is the moment to decide whether the added black and yellow variants matter to you. Since these are cosmetic additions, the decision is less about power and more about value. If you like muted tactical looks, black is the obvious pick. If you want visibility and personality, yellow is the obvious pick. If you only buy cosmetics when they affect your squad’s readability or your own brand, this patch gives you a clean, simple decision.

Use this quick decision table:

Preference	Better Volare variant	Reason
Low-key, tactical look	Black	Softer profile, more subdued feel
High-visibility style	Yellow	Strong visual contrast
No cosmetic urgency	Neither right now	No gameplay gain attached

This is the kind of update that is easy to ignore if you are purely systems-driven, but it is still worth a look if you care about presentation. In extraction games, style is part of the loop too.

Keep your current build unless you were already planning a change

Because the patch does not list concrete nerfs or weapon-specific changes, you should not panic-respec or re-roll a build just because a patch went live. If you already like your current kit, keep running it. If you were already on the fence about a respec, this patch does not add new evidence that your favorite setup is obsolete.

That advice holds especially well if you are mid-progress in longer-term completion. ARC Raiders has a substantial runtime profile, with HowLongToBeat placing completion at 157.95 hours for a full run. Source For a game with that much runtime, tiny updates should usually be interpreted as route refinements, not as invitations to start over.

Use this patch as a benchmark, not a rebuild trigger

The best way to respond to Store Update 1.40.0 is to treat it as a benchmark update. Check the event, note the new cosmetics, test the bug situation, and keep moving. If the game feels smoother, great. If Phantom Targets is more rewarding than expected, even better. If the boss bug still interrupts your planned engages, you now know to wait for the promised correction rather than forcing bad fights.

Patch context and broader game impact

Store Update 1.40.0 lands inside a game with a strong long-term audience and a healthy review profile, so even modest updates are worth reading carefully. ARC Raiders is listed on Steam as a multiplayer extraction adventure set in a lethal future Earth and built around conflict with ARC. Source That matters because the game’s identity is not just combat; it is also tension, route planning, and extraction risk. A small update that adds an event can therefore have a bigger actual footprint than the note size suggests.

The broader ecosystem around the game also suggests that players are invested for the long haul. Steam’s official review summary currently reads “Very Positive” (82.5% positive) across 411570 reviews, with about 38635 players in game on Steam right now. Source That kind of live audience means even cosmetic additions and small event changes will be felt quickly in matchmaking patterns, squad expectations, and social chatter.

For players comparing patch relevance, it also helps to remember the game’s compatibility and completion profile. ProtonDB currently classifies ARC Raiders as PLATINUM, and Steam Deck status is verified. Source SteamHunters also tracks 50 achievements with 0 currently unobtainable achievements. Source Those details suggest a mature live environment where updates are not just about novelty; they also affect long-term achievement hunting, compatibility confidence, and platform playability.

Here is a compact status snapshot for context:

Live-game signal	Current read	Why it matters for this patch
Steam review summary	Very Positive, 82.5% positive	The audience is already engaged enough to notice small updates
Current Steam players	38635 in game	Patch visibility and event turnout should be immediate
ProtonDB compatibility	PLATINUM, Steam Deck verified	Players on Linux or Deck can expect stable access
Achievement pool	50 achievements, 0 unobtainable	Long-term progression remains healthy

This is also why the update’s “small number of fixes” language matters. In a game with this level of player investment, even a light maintenance pass can influence how often squads return, how they route their first drop of the day, and whether they decide to keep pushing boss content before the next balance note lands.

Related guide placeholders

• related guide ARC Raiders event routing basics
• company could give turn based Best solo extraction habits in ARC Raiders
• related guide Queen and Matriarch encounter prep

Sources

• https://arcraiders.wiki/wiki/Patch_Notes
• https://www.ign.com/wikis/arc-raiders/ARC_Raiders_1.12.0_Patch_Notes
• https://store.steampowered.com/app/1808500/
• https://www.metacritic.com/game/arc-raiders
• https://howlongtobeat.com/?q=arcraiders
• https://steamhunters.com/apps/1808500/
• https://www.protondb.com/app/1808500/
• https://steamcommunity.com/stats/1808500/achievements

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