Arc Raiders turns to Denuvo Anti-Cheat in hopes of curbing foul play, Embark say they're "working to ensure minimal impact on performance"

As update adds a new trader and grenade launcher

Arc Raiders devs Embark have announced that they're going to be rolling out Denuvo anti-cheat software as part of efforts to limit the amount of dodgy behaviour going on the shooter. The studio said they'll be working to minimise any impact this has on performance, as they also deliver a new trader and weapon as part of a small update teased when they revealed the game's switch to bi-annual major expansions.

"Following a positive rollout in The Finals, Denuvo Anti-Cheat will also come to ARC Raiders starting May 19th, initially to a limited player pool, with plans to expand after close monitoring," Embark wrote in their latest patch notes. "We will not be using Denuvo's Digital Rights Management (DRM) service, and are working to ensure minimal impact on performance. With Denuvo Anti-Cheat and Anybrain, we are working to strengthen Arc Raiders' systems even further."

That performance impact being as minimal as possible will likely define how this move to Denuvo ends up being viewed long-term, but the fact Embark haven't opted for Denuvo DRM on top of it could be a good sign in terms of avoiding the sort of performance downgrade other games have endured when such tech's drafted in.

Beyond that, today's patch delivers Ermal, a Nomadic Envoy trader who's there to take stocks of spare materials and weapons off the hands of players level 25 and up. He's got the likes of expanded stash space and expedition vault access to offer in trades, as well as a range of cosmetics, blueprints, raider tokens, and other items which'll rotate weekly.

Then, there's the new weapon, a grenade launcher dubbed the Rascal. "Lightweight, compact, and easy to carry, this unconventional launcher packs a punch despite its...quirks," the devs say of this boomstick. "While it’s slower to reload, and a bit unpredictable on the aim, the Rascal shines as a reliable side-arm for those who want anti-Arc firepower without the risk of lugging around a Hullcracker." This patch has also added sideburns, so you can run around pretending to be a Victorian gentleman while blowing stuff up. Bug fixes and balancing tweaks abound too, which you can check out in the full notes if you fancy.