ARC Raiders received update 1.26 on April 28, bringing an upgraded version of PSSR to the PlayStation 5 Pro edition. According to Embark Studios, that means a sharper, cleaner, and more stable image without any hit to performance. On paper, that may sound like another technical footnote, but in a shooter built around constant movement, dense vegetation, heavy effects, and fast combat situations, this is the kind of improvement that can actually change how clean the game feels moment to moment.

As explained in the official PlayStation Blog post, the update uses an improved version of PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution specifically tuned for PS5 Pro hardware. This is Sony’s machine-learning-based upscaling technology, designed to reconstruct a more detailed and stable image from a lower native resolution. Embark says the biggest result here is a noticeable reduction in visual noise, flicker, and other distracting image issues, all without sacrificing the game’s overall performance.

That matters a lot in ARC Raiders, because this is not a calm or visually static game. Environments are constantly moving, vegetation shifts across the screen, drones cut rapidly through combat spaces, and firefights often stack multiple layers of particles, lighting, and transparent effects on top of one another. According to Embark engine lead Robert Kihl, the upgraded PSSR performs especially well in these more demanding scenarios, where moving objects are reconstructed more clearly and the image holds together with fewer artifacts.

The key improvement is not really in still images, but in how the game behaves in motion

Embark says one of the biggest gains from patch 1.26 is better image quality during movement. That matters far more than how the game looks in a static screenshot. Running, rapid camera turns, thick foliage, and hectic combat are the moments where upscaled images tend to show their weaknesses most clearly. This update is aimed directly at reducing flicker, shimmering, and ghosting, which are exactly the sort of issues that can quietly damage the visual experience over a longer play session.

It is also worth noting that this upgrade is limited to PS5 Pro users. Base PS5 players will continue using Unreal Engine’s TSR solution, with no change on that side for now. So this is not a broad console-wide visual overhaul. It is a focused demonstration that Embark believes the combination of improved PSSR and stronger PS5 Pro hardware can now deliver a genuinely visible difference.

That puts ARC Raiders among the games that are doing more than simply claiming PS5 Pro support. It is actually trying to show what that support can mean in practice. And because Embark says the implementation required only minimal adjustments while still producing reliable results across many kinds of scenes, this patch may end up being interesting beyond ARC Raiders itself. It also hints at how developers may increasingly try to push image quality on Sony’s upgraded hardware over the coming months.

Sources: 3DJuegos, PlayStation Blog, ARC Raiders