Arc Raiders' Riven Tides update didn't fix the game's biggest problem: Cheaters

Arc Raiders' Riven Tides update is a big moment for the game, introducing a new map of the same name, a wild new Arc threat in the form of the Turbine, and a host of tweaks and changes designed to improve the experience. Unfortunately, there was no fix for one of the biggest issues plaguing the game, as cheaters are still running rampant, with Tyler 'Ninja' Blevins calling it quits just hours after the patch launched.

The FPS game launched to rave reviews back in October 2025, but has seen a steady decline in player numbers ever since. Riven Tides was seen as an opportunity to bring lapsed fans back to Arc Raiders, but as shown by Ninja, it hasn't gotten off to the best start.

After playing for three hours on April 29, Ninja closed the game down, telling his squadmates he was jumping off. He then addressed his audience on Twitch, saying, "I apologize, guys. That'll do it. I'm not just going to die to cheaters and stream snipers again. Nothing's changed. Cool update though. If you guys aren't streamers, it should be a blast, but this game's unplayable."

Unfortunately, despite his comments, it's not just streamers who are being affected by cheating in Arc Raiders. Cheating has always been an issue, but over the last few months, it has become an epidemic. From aimbots to hacks that let opponents see through walls, and even cheats that reveal player locations and what's in their loadout, the game has become increasingly more difficult to play. It's no longer a rare occurrence to end up in a lobby where one enemy wipes everyone.

Embark Studios is aware of the issues and, back in February, stated that it was working on solutions, clarifying that, despite the desire for fast action from the community, they were taking their time to act fairly and accurately. Embark has introduced new measures to another of its games, The Finals, but Arc Raiders is still heaving under the weight of cheaters.

For the community, patience has seemingly run out. Search for the game on social media, and you'll find message after message complaining about hackers in their lobbies ruining the experience, begging Embark to do something. Others have just stopped playing altogether, with Arc Raiders' average player count dropping to 76,000 in April 2026, a huge drop from the 241,000 they averaged in January.

For Embark, new content is important, but if it can't get a handle on the issues plaguing the game soon, it may reach a point of no return, where those who have left the game move on and don't come back.