It’s time to trade the dust of the Rust Belt for the salt air of the shoreline. Embark Studios has just dropped the latest major update for ARC Raiders, titled Riven Tides, and it’s bringing a massive wave of new content to the extraction shooter.
If you’ve been looking for an excuse to dive back into the fight against the machines, this looks like a meaty reason to do so. Here is the breakdown of what’s waiting for you on the beach.
It’s another big one, and it’s fair to say that Embark Studios haven’t dropped the ball yet, so it’s likely going to be a good one.
A New Playground: Riven Tides
The headline addition is the new map, Riven Tides. Set on the western edge of the Rust Belt, this deserted shoreline features a mix of crumbling luxury and industrial decay.
You’ll be scavenging through the Panorama Azzurro hotel and navigating the towering Exodus port.
It’s a beautiful locale, but don’t get too distracted by the sunset—the map is reportedly a hotspot for other Raiders looking for fresh loot, and the open terrain makes it a dangerous place to get caught out.
This feels like the most PUBG map yet. There’s that undeniable look and charm of it here. This is a compliment, PUBG is a massive part of our gaming, even still. Arc Raiders takes all of that good stuff and adds all the new tension and chaos of an extraction Shooter.
New Threats and Gravity-Defying Gear
It wouldn’t be ARC Raiders without a new mechanical nightmare to worry about.
The ARC Turbine is a floating machine that patrols the skies. It’s described as “calm and docile” from a distance, but it packs brutal defensive capabilities if you get too close.
To help you navigate these new vertical environments, two new items have been added as well:
- Crash Mat: For when you need to make a quick exit from a high ledge without becoming a pancake.
- Powered Descender: A tool designed to give Raiders more control over vertical movement.
These are going to change the game for sure. The amount of height-based risk you take on any given run in Arc Raiders is no joke. Getting to mitigate that is huge!
Beachcombing and Bird Alarms
The update introduces a new minor map condition called Beachcombing. By finding the Dockmaster’s Detector, players can sweep the sands for buried loot.
There’s also a new Raider Project: Avian Alarm.
You’ll be tasked with building a makeshift security system by capturing birds at buoys along the coast.
Completing the stages of this project unlocks the Dockmaster’s Detector permanently, along with some slick cosmetic rewards like the Bird House backpack attachment.
Arc Raiders is never stingy with rewards on these updates, either. It’s such a refreshing change in modern online games to not be exploited for every penny, at every turn.
The ‘Last Resort’ Event
Running from now until May 25, the Last Resort event allows players to earn Merits (XP) that convert into rewards across three pages of unlocks.
You can speed up your progress by hunting down rare Ship Models hidden throughout the world. Rewards include the Junior Outfit, Hydrologist backpack, and a stash of Raider Tokens.
New Drip
Of course, you’ve got to look good while being hunted by killer robots. A host of new cosmetic sets are rolling out, including:
- Solare Set: Layered fabrics for the ritualistic Raider.
- Rachetta Set: Bold, athletic, and definitely not stealthy.
- The Corsaro: A “techno-captain” look featuring a robotic arm and spring-operated leg (coming later in May).
The Riven Tides update is live now. Whether you’re there for the tactical extraction gameplay or just to see how the other half lived at the Panorama Azzurro, it’s time to gear up and head to the coast.
We’ve been hitting Marathon quite a bit recently, so it’s time to extract in third-person again for a while. Arc Raiders is an exceptional game, and one we wish we could fit in more time with. Now we have no choice.
See you beachside, Raiders.
