ARC Raiders Adds Upgraded PSSR On PS5 Pro In Riven Tides Update
ARC Raiders is joining the growing list of games adopting the latest upgraded version of PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, with Embark Studios confirming that the Riven Tides update will bring immediate visual improvements for PS5 Pro players. In a new PlayStation Blog post, Embark says update 1.26 goes live on April 28 and introduces upgraded PSSR support specifically for PS5 Pro, promising sharper image quality, better stability, and reduced visual noise without any performance reduction.
According to Embark engine lead Robert Kihl, the upgraded PSSR brings “meaningful improvements” that PS5 Pro users should notice right away, especially in the dense and detail heavy environments ARC Raiders is known for. The studio says the new version improves fine detail preservation, reduces flickering and shimmering, reconstructs moving objects more accurately, and cuts down ghosting on translucent effects such as particle systems and rain.
Technical art director Mikael Linderholm added that the upgraded PSSR allows the team to deliver higher image quality and greater image stability while significantly reducing visual noise “without any performance reductions,” which is one of the most important points for PS5 Pro players weighing image quality gains against frame rate consistency. Embark also says the new implementation required only minimal fine tuning across the game’s varied scene complexity, from outdoor landscapes to combat heavy encounters filled with lighting and effects.
That is a notable win for ARC Raiders because extraction shooters depend heavily on visual readability. Cleaner image reconstruction, less shimmer, and better motion handling can directly improve the experience in a game where spotting threats, tracking movement, and reading environmental detail all matter. If Embark’s claims hold up in player hands, this could be one of the more practical PS5 Pro enhancements rather than a purely marketing driven checkbox. That last point is an inference based on the visual issues Embark specifically says PSSR improves.
The rest of the Riven Tides update is also substantial. The patch adds a new map called Riven Tides, a new enemy called the ARC Turbine, a new map condition called Beachcombing, 2 new items called the Powered Descender and the Crash Mat, and a limited time event named Last Resort. Embark says Last Resort runs from April 28 through May 25, 2026, and rewards players with Merits that can be exchanged across 3 pages of rewards, including a total of 250 Raiders Tokens. These additions position Riven Tides as a meaningful content update rather than just a technical refresh. The specific content list comes from the details you provided, while the PSSR portion is directly confirmed by PlayStation Blog.
Embark also clarified that base PS5 players will continue using TSR upscaling, which remains unchanged in update 1.26. That means the new visual uplift is currently a PS5 Pro exclusive enhancement, reinforcing Sony’s push to make PSSR one of the key technical differentiators for the upgraded console model.
For ARC Raiders itself, the timing is useful. The game has needed a fresh content beat, and a new map combined with a visual upgrade gives returning players more than one reason to jump back in. The stronger image quality angle may not matter equally to everyone, but for console players invested in premium hardware, PSSR 2 support helps position ARC Raiders as part of the new wave of titles actively taking advantage of PS5 Pro capabilities. That is an inference based on Sony’s broader positioning of PSSR and the way Embark is presenting the update.
Do you think sharper image quality with no performance hit is enough to make PS5 Pro upgrades feel worthwhile, or do you still want bigger gameplay and frame rate gains from Pro enhanced titles?
