Riven Tides is the next major ARC Raiders update, and it is built around a new coastal map, a new ARC enemy, a new map condition, new traversal items, a limited-time event, and a new Raider Project. Embark officially revealed the update on April 27, 2026, with the update positioned as the big April content drop on the game’s January-to-April roadmap.
1. Riven Tides Release Date And Launch Times
Riven Tides goes live on April 28, 2026, with the clearest official rollout time currently tied to 13:00 CEST / 11:00 UTC / 04:00 PT, which is when the Expedition Window opens alongside the update. It also lines up with the Trials Season 4 announcement, since Embark says Season 4 begins on April 29, one day after Riven Tides launches.
- Pacific Time — 4:00 a.m.
- Eastern Time — 7:00 a.m.
- Brasília Time — 8:00 a.m.
- British Summer Time — 12:00 p.m.
- Central European Summer Time — 1:00 p.m.
- Gulf Standard Time — 3:00 p.m.
- Pakistan Standard Time — 4:00 p.m.
- India Standard Time — 4:30 p.m.
- Japan Standard Time — 8:00 p.m.
- Australian Eastern Standard Time — 9:00 p.m.
2. Every Major Change in the Riven Tides Update
Riven Tides is not only a map patch. Embark bundled several gameplay changes and content additions into the update at the same time.
| Change | What It Adds |
|---|---|
| New map: Riven Tides | A new coastal Rust Belt map with shoreline routes, resort ruins, and port areas. |
| New enemy: ARC Turbine | A new floating ARC enemy with a distinct fight and strong defensive behavior. |
| New minor map condition: Beachcombing | Lets you use the Dockmaster’s Detector to find buried loot in the sand. |
| New items: Crash Mat and Powered Descender | Two traversal items that make drops from high ground safer and easier to manage. |
| New event: Last Resort | A limited-time event that runs until May 25, 2026, with Merit rewards and cosmetics. |
| New Raider Project: Avian Alarm | A five-stage project tied to coastline buoys, birds, and the Dockmaster’s Detector. |
| New cosmetics | New cosmetic sets at launch, with more sets added through May. |
3. New Map: Riven Tides
Riven Tides Map
The main feature of the update is Riven Tides, a new coastal map on the western edge of the Rust Belt. It stands out from the older inland zones because it mixes open shoreline routes, resort ruins, industrial dock spaces, and more exposed vertical movement, which gives the map a very different rhythm for looting, fighting, and rotating.
The key locations for the Riven Tides map are:
- Panorama Azzurro — the ruined hotel and main resort landmark.
- Rooftop bar — an elevated spot at the top of the resort.
- Pool and rear grounds — back side of the hotel with the pool and hill route.
- Beachfront — open shoreline between the resort and harbor.
- Harbor/dockyard — crane- and container-filled port area with strong vertical cover.
- Sea wall — an enclosed edge around the dockyard.
- Flooded docks and wrecked ships — damaged port strip with buried ships and toppled containers.
- Coastline buoys — coastal points tied to the Avian Alarm project.
4. New enemy: ARC Turbine
Arc Turbine
The new machine in Riven Tides is the ARC Turbine. Embark describes it as a floating ARC machine that drifts across the Rust Belt and appears calm until players get too close. Once engaged, it becomes a new, unique fight with brutal defensive abilities, and Embark specifically frames it as an enemy that demands skill, patience, and nerves.
5. New minor map condition: Beachcombing
Beachcombing map condition
One of the most important mechanical additions in Riven Tides is Beachcombing, a new minor map condition. During a session, players can find the Dockmaster’s Detector and sweep it across the sand to reveal buried loot.
This is a notable change because it creates a new kind of loot route. Instead of only checking fixed interiors or containers, you will also want to search exposed beach areas when Beachcombing is active.
6. New Items: Crash Mat and Powered Descender
The Crash Mat and Powered Descender are two new mobility items added with Riven Tides. Both are built to reduce fall damage and make vertical movement safer, which is especially useful on a map filled with dock structures, cliffs, rooftops, and elevated resort areas. These items are useful for:
- Safer drops from high ground
- Quicker route changes off rooftops and platforms
- Less risk when crossing vertical parts of the map
- Faster movement through the harbor, resort, and cliffside areas
7. New Event: Last Resort
Last Resort event
Last Resort is the new limited-time event in the Riven Tides update, and it runs until May 25, 2026. The event works across all maps, not just Riven Tides, so you can make progress no matter where you play. During the event, your regular XP turns into Merits, and you can earn extra Merits by finding miniature Ship Models hidden around the world. The rarer the model, the more Merit value it gives.
The event reward track is split across three pages and includes:
- Junior Outfit
- Hydrologist backpack
- Hose attachment
- Brass Faucet charm
- new emotes
- 250 Raider Tokens total
8. New Raider Project: Avian Alarm
Avian Alarm Raider Project
The new Raider Project is Avian Alarm. In this project, you build a makeshift security system that reacts to tremors and atmospheric changes by deploying cages at buoys along the Riven Tides coastline to catch birds. Avian Alarm will have five stages. The confirmed rewards are:
- Dockmaster’s Detector
- Gel Patches
- Bird House backpack attachment
- Fist In Air emote
- 250 Raider Tokens total
9. New cosmetics in Riven Tides
New Riven Tides Cosmetics
Riven Tides also adds a new wave of cosmetics. On launch day, Embark confirms two cosmetic sets. Each set offers a distinct theme: Solare is ceremonial and woven, Rachetta is bold and athletic, Corsaro is techno-captain inspired, Castaway is lone-wolf and self-reliant, and Sandveil is built for long, patient movement through dust and heat.
- Solare Set
- Rachetta Set
After launch, more sets are scheduled through May:
- Corsaro Set
- Castaway Set
- Sandveil Set
