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Arc Raiders’ Riven Tides Update Breaks Crossplay, Embark Issues Temporary Workaround

April 29, 2026 Off By Ibraheem Adeola

The Arc Raiders 1.26.0 Riven Tides update, released today, has disabled crossplay between PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC players, restricting matchmaking to same-system play while developers at Embark Studios confirm they’re actively working on a fix.

The newly launched Riven Tides update for Arc Raiders, version 1.26.0, introduces significant changes, including a new Riven Tides map, the Beachcombing map condition, an Arc Turbine enemy, and numerous new items, but has inadvertently switched off crossplay functionality across all platforms. Users have reported that the crossplay option is now disabled in the game’s settings, providing no way to reactivate it manually. This technical issue currently forces Arc Raiders players on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC to compete exclusively with others on the same system rather than the broader player base.

The community lead for Arc Raiders, Dusty Gustafsson, confirmed on the game’s official Discord server that Embark Studios is aware of and investigating this unexpected problem. Gustafsson stated: “We’re currently investigating an issue with Crossplay following today’s update. We’ll report back when the issue has been resolved. Thank you so much for the fast feedback and reports.”

Temporary Fix and Developer Response

Duo matchmaking in Arc Raiders — *^{Image credit: Embark Studios.}*

Gustafsson also acknowledged a provisional workaround for affected players: “You can give this a temporary fix by fully restoring your settings to default. If you do not want to do that, just hold off and wait for a fix. We’re working away on a better solution.” Restoring to default settings can reenable crossplay in some instances, although this requires players to lose all personalised configurations. Embark Studios recommends waiting for an official patch if resetting isn’t desirable.

Full patch notes for the update are available on the official Arc Raiders site. Version 1.26.0’s headline features are:

New Riven Tides map
Beachcombing map condition
New Arc Turbine enemy
Assortment of new items
Temporary disabling of crossplay functionality

As a direct result of the bug, there is currently no way for users to turn crossplay back on within the options menu. The issue affects matchmaking and team formation across all platforms, impacting both competitive and cooperative play and reducing the active player pool for each device family.

Planned Game Balance Changes and Roadmap

Arc Raiders players finish community event and unlock a new map in just one day — *^{Image credit: Embark Studios}*

The Riven Tides update isn’t the only major development underway for Arc Raiders. Last week, the game’s design director, Virgil Watkins, confirmed that the skill tree will undergo “pretty significant changes” following community criticism. In comments reported by VGC, Watkins explained that current skill tree imbalances disproportionately favour players focused on either PvP or PvE modes, putting dedicated players at a disadvantage in the other discipline. Watkins stated: “I don’t think by any means we nailed it.”

Watkins said these adjustments are planned to ensure better parity and utility among skill options, supporting a more balanced gameplay experience regardless of playstyle. Neither Watkins nor Embark Studios has provided a specific timetable for these upcoming changes, but they have acknowledged player feedback and signalled a willingness to refine the core systems of Arc Raiders beyond bug fixes and content updates.

As of 28 April 2026, Embark Studios has not issued a formal ETA for the crossplay fix, but players are encouraged to follow official communications for progress updates. Those seeking immediate resolution can attempt a settings reset as a workaround, but are advised to wait for a permanent fix if concerned about lost preferences.

For the latest news and developments on Arc Raiders crossplay, patch notes, skill tree reworks, and update timelines, check Embark Studios’ official channels and the Arc Raiders Discord server.