Duplication exploits have become a recurring headache in Arc Raiders since launch, and Embark Studios is once again playing whack-a-mole. The studio just pushed a hotfix for the extraction shooter, closing off yet another item duplication glitch while also addressing a couple of other issues that have been frustrating players across platforms.
The fix was confirmed by community manager Ossen via the official Arc Raiders Discord server. As has become standard practice with these patches, the announcement keeps specifics deliberately vague, with no step-by-step breakdown of what the exploit actually involved. The reasoning is straightforward: spelling out exactly how a dupe worked is basically a tutorial for anyone who missed it.
That said, players on the Discord had already been piecing things together. Reports pointed to the exploit involving hatch keys, with 2 players apparently required to pull it off: one to perform the duplication and exit, the other to collect the resulting loot. Whether that was the full picture or just part of it, the mechanic is now gone.
Why this keeps happening after Flashpoint
Here's the thing: this isn't an isolated incident. There has been a noticeable uptick in duplication exploits since the Flashpoint update dropped, suggesting that the major content patch may have inadvertently opened some cracks in the game's item handling. Embark has now patched multiple separate dupe glitches in the weeks following Flashpoint, which points to a systemic issue rather than a one-off oversight.
The pattern has drawn criticism from parts of the community, particularly from players who feel the studio's broader anti-cheat response has been too measured. Embark has pushed back on that characterization, stating it has issued permanent bans for serious infractions and that enforcement is ongoing.
This hotfix does not require a game restart. The fix is applied automatically, so you can jump straight back into expeditions without interruption.
The other two fixes in this patch
Beyond the dupe, this hotfix also addresses 2 additional problems. First, a bug that allowed players to rejoin a round they should not have had access to has been resolved. Embark hasn't elaborated on the exact conditions that triggered it, but depending on how frequently it occurred, it could have had real implications for match integrity.
Second, and perhaps most welcome for a chunk of the playerbase, recurring crashes on PlayStation 5 have been fixed. Ossen noted that Embark "will continue to monitor the situation as we investigate further," which signals the team isn't treating this as fully resolved just yet. More follow-up patches may come if the crashes resurface or if the root cause turns out to be broader than what this hotfix addressed.
What this means for the player experience right now
For the majority of players who weren't exploiting anything, the practical upside here is straightforward: the loot economy gets a little cleaner, PS5 players get a more stable session, and one more edge case that could disrupt a match is gone. What most players miss in these smaller hotfixes is how much cumulative work goes into keeping a live extraction shooter balanced, especially one that launched with as much momentum as Arc Raiders.
The key here is that Embark has been consistent about pushing these fixes quickly rather than bundling them into larger weekly patches. That approach keeps the most damaging exploits from spreading, even if it means the patch notes feel thin on any given day.
Keep an eye on the official Discord and patch notes for any follow-up stability fixes, and check out the latest gaming news for ongoing Arc Raiders coverage as the post-Flashpoint update cycle continues.
