Arc Raiders developers revealed details and release date of the major Frozen Trail update - with a new map and threats

The developers have been preparing for this update for a long time.

The Embark Studios team has finally started teasing the next major Arc Raiders update, titled "Frozen Trail." Previously, the developers slowed down the pace of updates, deciding to switch to a model of releasing two "larger and more significant" updates per year.

According to the story, Shani will summon Raiders to investigate a strange signal coming from beyond the mountains. Players will explore a frozen settlement, lost at the foot of the mountains on the outskirts of the Rust Belt. Once, villages thrived here, factories and research centers operated, and an observatory was located, but now all of it has long been abandoned.

The developers said that creating the map was an "exciting challenge" for the level design team. The authors focused on developing a large-scale location with more pronounced verticality and wide opportunities for exploration: "You will face threats both above and below ground, and explore places no Raider has ever seen before."

The Frozen Trail update will also introduce a new "large-scale ARC operation" for experienced Raiders. The developers have not yet revealed the details – they promise to hold a full presentation later. In addition, there will be "new ARCs, new threats." Each of them is designed to challenge "familiar ways of movement, combat, and adaptation." The new enemies are diverse – ranging from "a small but very agile troublemaker to a huge machine capable of stopping you in your tracks."

Progression in Arc Raiders will become deeper – an "Outpost" will appear, which players can decorate. The skill tree will also be adjusted to "give more freedom" in choosing what kind of Raider players want to become.

The release of the Frozen Trail update for Arc Raiders is scheduled for October 8, 2026.