ARC Raiders' 'Riven Tides' Update: Did Embark Studios Accidentally Cast a Review Bomb Spell?
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
ARC Raiders is facing a significant review bomb on Steam following its 'Riven Tides' update, which players are criticizing despite its extensive content, causing its recent review score to dip to 'Mixed' amidst an already shrinking player base. While the update and initial crossplay issues are factors, Jeff wonders if broader multiplayer competition is also playing a role in the live-service game's current struggles.
Right then, gather 'round, mates, because it seems Embark Studios might've accidentally opened a portal to a dimension of *unhappy* players with their latest ARC Raiders update. Our digital tea leaves are showing some proper turbulence for the extraction shooter, all thanks to the 'Riven Tides' update and event, which dropped on April 28, 2026.
Joshua Duckworth over at Game Rant (cheers, mate!) was on the case, reporting that in just a couple of days, ARC Raiders was getting absolutely hammered with negative reviews on Steam. The kind of hammering that makes you wonder if someone tried to fix a bug with a hammer. You know the drill – the dreaded 'review bomb.'
Now, 'Riven Tides' was meant to be the grand finale of the Escalation roadmap. On paper, it sounded like a wizard's feast: new coastal map, the Arc Turbine, a 'beachcombing' map condition (intriguing, that!), new tools, items, blueprints, an expedition rework, and even a treasure hunting mechanic. All good, right? Like a spell that *should* work perfectly. But alas, when it hit the players, it seems some wires got crossed in the magical coding realm.
Not only did players start grumbling about the content itself, but the update also decided to have a bit of a laugh and *broke crossplay* for everyone initially. A minor hiccup, they say, with a temporary fix, but still, not exactly the smooth launch you'd hope for a 'grand finale,' is it?
Insider Gaming, as picked up by Game Rant, noted that ARC Raiders' recent reviews plummeted to 'Mixed' on Steam, with only 65% being positive. And get this: negative reviews are outpacing the positive ones by almost double. Bloody hell, that's a tough crowd! What's fascinating (in an 'oopsie-daisy' kind of way) is that this influx of negativity is landing on an already somewhat weaker player base. ARC Raiders' player count is still considerably down from its 2025 launch heights. 'Riven Tides' gave it a tiny spike, sure, but it fizzled out faster than a damp firework, with weekend numbers continuing the trend. The 'Last Resort' event is still running until May 25, but if players aren't sticking around after the first week, well, I reckon they've moved on.
So, what's going on? Is it just the update not quite hitting the mark, or are there bigger currents at play? I'm inclined to be a bit observant here: the multiplayer space is an absolute ocean of games right now. With Bungie's Marathon just out, for example, there's some serious competition vying for players' attention. It's a tough market to stand out in, especially if your shiny new update feels a bit... tarnished.
Despite all this digital ruckus, it's worth remembering that ARC Raiders' *overall* review rating on Steam still sits at 'Very Positive,' thanks to a lot of goodwill built up since launch. So, it's not all doom and gloom. The big question now is how Embark Studios navigates these choppy 'Riven Tides.' Can they turn the ship around, or will this review bomb leave a lasting crater? I'm genuinely curious to see how this one plays out. Every stumble is a chance for a magic trick, eh?
Tags: Extraction Shooter, Live Service, Review Bombing, Game Update, Embark Studios
Original article: Game Rant