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Embark is finally pushing Arc Raiders players off the Survivor crutch

Patch 1.29.0 gave the Tactical Mk. 3 (Healing) and Combat Mk. 3 (Flanking) augments direct buffs while leaving Survivor untouched.

Arc Raiders players figured out the same thing fast: the Survivor augment is hard to beat when it hands out shield support, extra inventory space, more carry weight, and quick-use slots all at once. Embark Studios is now trying to give other loadout options a real reason to compete.

In Embark’s May 19 patch notes, the Tactical Mk. 3 (Healing) augment got a much stronger revive effect. Its healing cloud now works as an area-of-effect heal for 45 points, up from 20, though the cooldown also moved from 30 seconds to 45 seconds.

The Combat Mk. 3 (Flanking) also got a cleaner role. It can now use medium shields, which gives the augment more staying power for players who want something built for aggressive positioning instead of the lighter shield setup it had before. Embark said it is still focusing on underperforming augments and wants the support and flanking choices to better fit how they are meant to be used.

The Survivor augment itself was left alone, so the most popular pick did not get cut down in this pass. That matters, because the reason it dominates is simple: for many players, the safer, all-purpose option still feels better than a niche pick unless that niche really solves a problem.

What do you think of Embark’s approach here? Share your thoughts in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram for more gaming news.

ARC Raiders

ARC Raiders is a multiplayer extraction adventure, set in a lethal future earth, ravaged by a mysterious mechanized threat known as ARC. Enlist as a Raider and scavenge the surface to thrive in a desolate world. But beware of the machines. Beware of Raiders preying on others.

ARC Raiders blends the tension from extraction shooters with atmospheric settings from the adventure genre. Lurking threats—from deadly machines to other Raiders—create a constant ebb and flow of intensity, where every moment is charged with the thrill of high stakes. Extract valuable loot and explore the unfolding mysteries of a vibrant, lethal world.

ARC Raiders supports seamless social play across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. Play with your squad and thrive as a team, or rise in the ranks as a lone ranger.

  • Genre Shooter
  • Platforms Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5
  • Perspective Third person
  • Modes Multiplayer, Co-operative
  • Release October 30, 2025
  • Publisher Embark Studios
  • Age Rating ESRB TPEGI 16USK 18ACB MGRAC 15+CLASS_IND 14

Angel Kicevski

I've spent half of my life playing video games, ever since the competitive 1.6 era, where I played professionally. Now I am happily married to Margarita Kicevski and have two beautiful children. My goal is to deliver fresh news and updates from the gaming world, but also deliver some juicy guides. Previously, I worked on another website for 8 years and decided to continue my journey here! So basically, I am in this industry for 10+ years... which has been quite a lot, let me tell you!
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