With the official launch of Flashpoint update, players have mostly focused their attention on the new gear additions. However, the update also quietly tweaked the world map - a move that actually serves as a clue planted by the developers for the upcoming Riven Tides update in April.

It's been five months since the last new map was introduced, and players have been waiting a long time. Many have even grown tired of the current content and decided to step away. Riven Tides update is your chance to bring your friends back to ARC. Let's take a look at what other exciting content it has in store.

What does Flashpoint Bring?

Flashpoint isn't just a content update - it's a structural adjustment at the system level. The team used it to tweak respawn mechanics, loot density, and pressure levels. Because players had been finding ARC encounters too easy, and the development team wanted to raise the challenge again. However, the developers also introduced new weapons and ARC Raiders blueprints to ensure players had the incentive to tackle this high-difficulty content.

Flashpoint update may also be serving as a prelude to Riven Tides. Since the current roster of ARC enemies no longer poses a significant threat to veteran players, the new map conditions introduced in Flashpoint have raised the game's difficulty baseline. Riven Tides is expected to build upon this foundation by introducing even more challenging content.

Riven Tides Release Date

A community manager for ARC Raiders confirmed on Discord that Riven Tides update will go live at the end of the month. This aligns with the previously shared roadmap, and now it's officially verified. Based on the confirmed late-April timing, the expected release date is April 28.

New Map Details

The new map features a coastal setting and includes a global environmental condition whose specifics have yet to be revealed. It will also introduce a large ARC enemy classified as boss-tier - on par with massive foes like Bastion, Matriarch, and Queen. Players briefly caught a glimpse of this enemy in earlier trailers and on Art Station.

Additionally, the team has confirmed that the third expedition window will open alongside this update. And before the major update arrives, the developers have already been dropping subtle environmental clues in recent patches.

Map changes

Before Flashpoint update, the big map looks standard - nothing particularly eye-catching. After Flashpoint update, when you open the map, you'll notice some changes in the bottom-left corner. 

When you examine the in-game map closely, you'll find sticky notes, stickers, images, and small icons added to that corner. One beach image, in particular, hints at the new map's setting.

The Beach Image

The image shows a coastline with a clear beach aesthetic. It looks a bit worn and faded, but a sticky note underneath clearly states: This image matches the location. That strongly suggests the picture points to an actual place on the map.

Next to the image is a label: Hotel Beachfront. Around this location, you'll also spot many Easter egg-style details. For example, a keychain with the number 9 on it - clearly corresponding to a room number. The development team enjoys using numbers to guide players toward different areas.

The key also features text like "goods access" or something similar, possibly linked to residential supplies noted elsewhere in the bottom-left corner. Specifically, those supplies include cleaning products and chemical components.

Putting all these clues together, the map doesn't point to a vague water area - instead, it indicates a heavily damaged beachfront building complex, centered around a ruined coastal hotel. The seawall view in the photo matches the area marked on the map perfectly.

Although the team hasn't officially announced the exact location for Riven Tides, the new clues, sticky notes, and highly suggestive photos on the world map allow us to reasonably infer that the new map lies in the bottom-left corner of the main map, next to the volcanic uplift and directly below Buried City.

How to Prepare for Riven Tides?

If you don't plan to join the expedition, my advice is to make sure you have enough long-range weapons. The new map seems to feature more elevated open areas, so you'll need firearms with good reach. At the same time, because there will be interiors like hotel buildings, close-quarters weapons are also essential for moving through those spaces.

Given that Riven Tides location sits right next to the volcanic uplift and considering the hinted open coastline, this area is likely to be extremely challenging. So beyond weapons, you should prioritize upgrading your mobility gear. The new map may have many sightline control zones, with an overall open feel. Based on concept art from Artstation, some areas look quite exposed.

Ziplines, portable cover, and smoke grenades are items you should stock up on in advance - especially smoke grenades, which are currently severely underrated in the game. Almost every loadout benefits from carrying smoke grenades. They're highly effective against both ARC enemies and other players, especially on exposed bridges or flooded checkpoints.

Looking at all the maps released so far, the development team has always pursued a distinct identity for each one, ensuring no two maps feel the same. So for players, the new map arriving in the coming weeks is something truly worth looking forward to.

If you find yourself temporarily weary of the fast-paced competition in MLB The Show 26 and are looking to take a breather, Franchise Mode, one of the game's core gameplay pillars, makes for an excellent choice.

While this doesn't mean the mode doesn't require your serious attention, it does allow you to take things at your own pace; after all, developing a team is a gradual, step-by-step process.

More importantly, compared to its predecessors, MLB The Show 26 introduces several commendable improvements to Franchise Mode. Below, we present a comprehensive guide to help you get started with this feature.

Franchise Mode overview

As you may already know, the core modes in MLB The Show titles over recent years have primarily consisted of Diamond Dynasty, Road to the Show, Franchise, and Storylines.

Among these, Diamond Dynasty focuses on the competitive virtual baseball experience itself; Storylines introduces you to legendary players; while RTTS and Franchise focus specifically on the development of a single player versus an entire team, respectively.

Building on this foundation, Franchise Mode casts you, more specifically, in the role of a Team General Manager, granting you complete control over every aspect of a team's operations. From player trades to training regimens, every decision rests in your hands.

Common gameplay scenarios requiring your decision-making include:

• Roster Management: Managing your lineup and depth chart based on player availability and current form.
• Salary Management: Overseeing the team payroll and deciding whether to sign big-name superstars or rely on utility players to conserve your budget.
• Scouting & Drafting: Utilizing the scouting system to identify high-potential prospects and selecting them during the annual draft held every July.
• Player Development: Enhancing your players' various attributes through tailored training programs.
• Coaching Staff: Hiring the right coaches for different positions to accelerate player growth and boost on-field performance.

How to play Franchise Mode efficiently?

To experience a single season of Franchise Mode in its entirety, you would typically need to play through at least 160 team games.

While investing more time allows you to intervene more frequently, thereby potentially boosting your win percentage, you likely won't have the luxury of that much free time.

Therefore, the first step is to determine your level of engagement based on your personal gaming schedule:

• Full Control: Manually play every single game yourself, using your personal skills to influence the outcome of as many matchups as possible.
• Quick Sim: Rapidly simulate through games, jumping in only during critical moments or key situations.
• Text-Based Simulation: Issue tactical commands via a text-based play-by-play interface, with the option to jump into live gameplay whenever the situation demands it.
• Rotation: Alternate between playing games manually and simulating them to strike a balance between hands-on control and time efficiency. Play one game manually while simulating five others to ensure that all five starting pitchers get a turn in the rotation, or simply choose to play only the first game of each week.

Once you have your time management down, the next step is to strategically handle player signings and contract renewals.

For instance, by locking down long-term contracts for young core players early on to ensure you have a more robust budget available in the future.

When selecting players for different positions, while powerful sluggers may grab the spotlight, if you intend to play through multiple seasons, elite-level pitchers and defensive specialists will prove far more valuable over the course of a long campaign.

Finally, before recruiting new players, don't forget to pay attention to your scouting director and coaching staff; their capabilities will ultimately determine whether the rookies you select can successfully fill future gaps in your roster.

Changes in MLB 26

Beyond simply leading your team on the field, effective day-to-day management requires a firm grasp of various granular features, an area that MLB 26 has specifically optimized.

First up is Trade Hub within Franchise Mode, a one-stop control center where you can view and manage all trade-related matters.

MLB 26 introduces a centralized trade workbench to Trade Hub, now allowing you to track trade targets, transfer rumors, and other relevant information in real-time.

Furthermore, the addition of Trade Delay System means that trades no longer need to be finalized instantly.

You can now dictate the pace of trade negotiations based on your team's market size, current standings, and future strategic direction, even facilitating massive deals involving up to four players on each side.

To help you better assess player potential, and thus decide who to keep, who to let go, and who to prioritize for development, MLB The Show 26 introduces Potential Ratings, grading players on a scale from A to F.

Leveraging the widespread application of AI technology, MLB 26 has also enriched the customization options within Franchise Mode.

You can now tailor your level of involvement to your personal preferences; if you don't want to sink too much time into administrative tasks, you can simply delegate various responsibilities directly to AI.

Pitfalls to avoid

To offer you greater freedom within the game, MLB 26 allows you to fully customize your roster. Since a player's Potential rating is one of the primary factors determining a roster's overall strength, you might be tempted to set this value artificially high.

The catch, however, is that if you intend to play through multiple seasons in Franchise Mode, this practice could inadvertently undermine your long-term enjoyment of the mode.

The reason for this is that, over the long term, specifically by the time you reach the final seasons, OVR of players throughout the entire league will become inflated.

Virtually every team would end up fielding multiple MVP-caliber players, a scenario that defies realistic logic and runs counter to the original design intent of this game mode.

Of course, if you don't mind this outcome, you are free to proceed in that manner. However, to ensure a balanced and realistic gaming experience, we recommend taking a more gradual and measured approach when customizing player potential ratings.

That concludes everything we have to share with you for now. We hope you'll soon be able to build your very own dream team in Franchise Mode!