Embark Studios has released Live Update 1.45.0 for ARC Raiders, and with it word that the in-game currency Cred is going away.

It is not gone yet: Cred stays usable until October 8 and only expires with the big Frozen Trail update that lands that day.

Cred gets an expiry date: October 8

Embark is retiring the Cred currency, though not with this update. Cred stays fully usable until October 8, after that any remaining balance expires when the Frozen Trail update goes live. That makes 1.45.0 mostly the heads-up: if you still have Cred, spend it with Shani or on outstanding Raider Deck rewards before then.

The reason is the planned Raider Deck rework. With Frozen Trail, Embark is introducing a larger reward system that folds in the existing Raider Deck rewards. Anything you have already unlocked stays with you, so nothing you own disappears in the switch.

1.45.0 is also the last big Live Update before October 8. A smaller update is still planned in between. We have written up separately when the big Frozen Trail update on October 8 lands and what else it brings.

Ascending the Mountain sends Raiders into the peaks

1.45.0 kicks off the new Raider Project, Ascending the Mountain. The hook is the phantom ARC signals that have been worrying Shani for a while: they lead ARC into the mountain range beyond the Tube system, a place Raiders cannot currently reach.

Apollo is said to be working on an experimental solution and is looking for help. He wants Raiders who know their way around schematics and can keep a low profile.

Hornet Hunter Set, Expedition 5 and the community ducks

Alongside the Raider Project, the update adds more content:

  • Hornet Hunter Set: a new cosmetic equipment set.
  • Expedition 5: the fifth Expedition is live now.
  • Community Rubber Ducks: the community-designed rubber ducks are in the game. You can put them on display in your Raider Den over in Bird City. The winning designs come from gekko.rar, im_AshCheeks and nassguhl.
  • Boonie outfit: available from September 15.

Unreal Engine jumps from 5.3 to 5.7

Embark is moving ARC Raiders from Unreal Engine 5.3 to 5.7. Jumping four versions mid-season is unusual, and it is probably why this update carries so many stability fixes.

Fixed specifically:

  • A crash on PS5 that could happen shortly after starting a session.
  • A crash triggered by rapidly pressing certain keys during gameplay.
  • Squads that could get stuck after a squadmate signed out and rejoined, which blocked ready-up and stopped matchmaking.

The UI gets smaller improvements on top: the loadout weight indicator now updates immediately when you drop part of a stack. The pickup prompt shows "loadout full" when your inventory is full. And the matchmaking error messages are more detailed, for example when you go offline while queuing or your crossplay settings do not line up.

The most important gameplay changes

The biggest gameplay change is a new over-encumbrance tier. Carry well above your loadout weight limit and you are down to walking only, with sprinting and jumping fully disabled.

More adjustments:

  • Aphelion: less weapon sway for steadier aim.
  • Matriarch: its stomp no longer hits through tall cover or while you are standing on top of the Matriarch.
  • Expeditions: starting an Expedition no longer resets your quests automatically. When you depart you can now decide whether to reset them.
  • Moving surfaces: when you land you follow the surface on touchdown, not while still in the air.
  • Quick cycling: quick item cycling can be bound separately from the quick-use wheel or turned off entirely, and both can share the same key. This is meant to stop unintended item swaps after closing the wheel.
  • Snitch Scanners: they now spawn ARC much like the regular Snitch, but with a lower chance for stronger ARC.
  • ARC Turbine mines could not be pinged, now fixed.
  • The Equalizer played its firing sound when holstering, also fixed.
  • Voice chat did not work with Raider Voice enabled, working again now.
  • The Rawhide headgear stayed visible with its toggle off, fixed as well.

Known issues

Embark lists a number of open problems at release:

  • The second part of the Phantom Targets project could not be started by some players. Compensation is set to follow in a future update.
  • On Xbox Series S, several fixes still target crashes. Embark is asking players to report anything that persists.
  • Crashes on PC tied to Windows update KB5121003. There is a workaround from the studio until the fix ships.
  • On Epic, keyboard input can suddenly drop out. The suggested fixes: disable overlays, or alt-tab out of the game and back in.
  • Various animation bugs: the throw animation when detonating a Trigger 'Nade right after throwing it, weapon swapping straight after vaulting, and interrupting a search of the Baron Husk.
  • Shredders float to the ceiling in some rooms of the Hidden Bunker, Leapers can jump through the ARC Turbine, and shots taken while riding ARC sometimes do not register.
  • Clipping issues with the Triumph, Reaver and Azimuth outfits.

FAQ

Is Cred switched off with Update 1.45.0?

No. Cred stays usable as normal until October 8, 2026. Only when the Frozen Trail update launches does any remaining balance expire. Until then you can spend it with Shani or on outstanding Raider Deck rewards.

Do I lose the Raider Deck rewards I have already unlocked?

No. Everything unlocked at the time of the update stays. The existing Raider Deck rewards also carry over into the new reward system.

Do I need to do anything for the update?

Restart the game so the 1.45.0 download comes through.

So what now?

1.45.0 is the starting gun for the change, not the change itself. That arrives on October 8 with Frozen Trail: a new reward system, reworked Raider Decks and the final end of Cred, all on one day. If you still have a balance, you have a good four weeks to spend it.