Arc Raiders Riven Tides Update: Release Date, New Map, and More

The Escalation roadmap for Arc Raiders is about to reach its finale. After surviving the Shrouded Sky and Flashpoint updates, Embark Studios is preparing to drop its most significant Arc Raiders content drop with the Riven Tides update. If you find yourself wondering about when you can expect this new patch, here’s everything you need to know about the Arc Raiders Riven Tides update.

Editor’s Note: Updated with the latest details about the new Riven Tides map on April 20, 2026.

When Does Arc Raiders Riven Tides Update Come Out?

Embark Studios has finally confirmed that the Arc Raiders Riven Tides update will go live on April 28, 2026, at 1:30 AM PT (or 4:30 AM ET). This update will also follow the same pattern as all other updates part of the Escalation roadmap, including Flashpoint and Shrouded Sky, which have launched on the final Tuesday of their designated months.

What to Expect from Arc Raiders Riven Tides Update?

Riven Tides will be the first major update of Arc Raiders in 2026. As teased earlier, the new update will introduce a new map, a new ARC enemy, and more. So, let’s go over everything that’s being added to Arc Raiders in the Riven Tides update:

New Map

For the first time since its launch, the Raiders will be leaving the inland industrial zone. The Arc Raiders Riven Tides update will introduce a sprawling coastal biome located in the bottom-left of the Rust Belt, positioned just below Buried City. 

Players can expect a mixture of sandy dunes, jagged cliffs, and flooded urban ruins. Unlike the verticality of the Arc Raiders Stella Montis map, the new Riven Tides map is expected to feature wide-open sightlines along the shoreline of the Rust Belt. The new map will include resort, theme, and harbor-type points of interest, which we have discussed in detail below.

New Large ARC Threat

The new map is not the only highlight coming with the Riven Tides update, as the Escalation roadmap also tells us that a new large ARC enemy will be making its debut with the new patch. While we don’t know much about this, this new ARC threat is likely The Bishop.

This towering enemy will likely utilise long-range artillery and area denial attacks to punish the Raiders. The Bishop was originally seen in early playtests of Arc Raiders and has been highly anticipated ever since. Now, The Bishop will finally make its long-awaited debut in the Riven Tides update.

New Map Condition

Just like the Hurricane map condition in the Shrouded Sky update and the Close Scrutiny map condition in the Flashpoint update, Embark is introducing yet another map condition with the new Riven Tides patch.

While the exact name of the map condition is still under wraps, it may lean into the new map’s coastal theme, obscuring players’ vision or limiting certain paths. We will have to wait a little longer to find out what Embark devs have in store for the raiders next.

Expedition 3 Window

It’s that time again, when Embark gives players the choice to have their current Raider leave the Rust Belt entirely and start over with a new character. Much like Expedition 2, players will be able to sign up for Expedition 3 with the Arc Raiders Riven Tides update, but there is a twist. Devs have switched the requirements for the upcoming Expedition 3, and you can learn more about it via our linked guide.

As usual, the Expedition not only allows them an option to reset their progression but also gives them a chance at fresh rewards that typically include:

• Raider Cosmetics
• Additional stash slots
• Skill point bonuses

The Riven Tides update is about to be one of the bigger content patches for Arc Raiders. As players gear up for the new map and Expedition Window, Embark has a great shot at getting Arc Raiders back to its spot as the prime extraction shooter of 2026.

Riven Tides Map POI in Arc Raiders

Ahead of the Riven Tides update dropping next week, Embark devs have already started to tease the new locations we will be visiting in a new scout report. So, if you are curious about the different locations the all-new Riven Tide map will feature, check it out below:

New Hotel Areas

Since the upcoming Riven Tides map is a coastal region, it is time to explore abandoned resorts in Arc Raiders. The Exodus Hotel with the Panorama Azzurro welcome sign is one of the major points of interest on the Riven Tides map. So, players can look forward to raiding this deserted hotel containing high-value loot next week.

Pool and Beach Areas

In addition to the resorts, we have a theme park area with pools and a beachfront bar. As you head out of the hotel region, players can now enjoy a stroll along the shore if they aren’t being hunted by a raider or new ARC enemies like Vaporizer.

Harbor Areas

The once thriving Exodus Port has now become a relic of the past. Raiders are free to explore the Stacking Yard and Customs House, home to massive cranes and tons of containers, as part of the Riven Tides map. Raiders can either utilize this area to their advantage for hiding from ARC enemies or gain a high ground advantage against fellow scavengers.

And that’s everything we know so far about the upcoming Riven Tides map update. Are you excited about the Arc Raiders Riven Tides update? What do you expect to see from this new patch? Tell us in the comments below!