Arc Raiders’ Frozen Trail Update Brings a Snowy New Map, Customizable Homes, and a Whole New Arsenal

Embark Studios has unveiled a sweeping 2.0 “Frozen Trail” update for the extraction shooter Arc Raiders, delivering what the developer describes as its most ambitious content expansion to date. Announced during a press Q&A session, the patch introduces a new snowy mountain map called Pendola Pass, four brand-new ARC enemy types, customizable personal outposts, weapon amplification systems, two fresh firearms, a reworked skill tree, gun skins, and a suite of cosmetic gadgets. The update marks the first major release under Embark’s newly adopted six-month cadence between big patches, and it is set to arrive alongside the game’s ongoing live-service evolution.

At the heart of the expansion is Pendola Pass, a wintry region positioned north of the existing Rust Belt area and dramatically flanked on all sides by the colossal corpse of an Emperor-tier ARC. Embark has branded the map as its “most ambitious map to date,” and it introduces a novel “Flash Freeze” environmental condition that penalizes players who linger outside for too long, adding a new layer of risk to the game’s already punishing extraction formula.

A New Breed of ARC Threat

Beyond the map, the update expands the roster of hostile ARC units with four distinct designs, each engineered to test experienced players in different ways. The Frigate is a “massive airborne carrier” that the studio claims cannot be fully destroyed, framing it as a “high-stakes challenge for experienced Raiders.” The Bully is a four-legged belligerent modeled after the existing Leaper, relying on “hit-and-run tactics” to chip away at players over time. The Skulker is a small, ground-level pest that keeps its distance and “takes pot shots” at opponents, while the Hydra operates as a stationary turret capable of targeting three players simultaneously.

Building a Home of Your Own

Perhaps the most personal addition is the outpost system, which lets players construct and expand private spaces outside of the main Speranza zone. These homes can be furnished with decor, furniture, trinkets, and upgrade benches, giving players a creative outlet between expeditions. However, the feature comes with a notable limitation: players cannot physically walk around their outpost at launch. “That is something we’re thinking about as we look to evolve this feature,” added executive producer Aleksander Grøndal in a press Q&A.

“That is something we’re thinking about as we look to evolve this feature.”

Aleksander Grøndal, Executive Producer at Embark Studios

More Power, More Style

On the combat front, the update introduces a new research bench that lets players upgrade their firearms to an “amplification” tier, granting each weapon unique abilities such as flammable ammo or rapid-fire modes. Fifteen guns will receive amplifications at launch, with the Stiletto—a light-ammo battle rifle positioned as an “early game alternative to the Renegade”—and the Bantum, a quickfire revolver meant to compete with the Anvil—leading the charge. A reworked skill tree also takes center stage, with Embark promising more impactful abilities that force players to commit to specific playstyles, though not every skill can be acquired on a single raider.

Rounding out the arsenal additions are gun skins delivered through a new “stencil” system. Players can now find stencils that serve as multi-use skins applied to their weapons, and if a gun is lost, the stencil must be reapplied. Stencil blueprints can be discovered or unlocked through the new research station, while a collection of gadgets—including a grapple hook, a banjo, and a camera tool—adds a touch of nonviolent flair to any Arc Raiders lobby.

A New Rhythm for the Franchise

Frozen Trail represents the first harvest of Arc Raiders’ newly established six-month gap between major updates, a shift that the studio has signaled it wants to embrace moving forward. The change reflects a broader philosophy of delivering rarer but more substantial patches rather than frequent, smaller ones. For the community, the trade-off appears to be landing well, with many players expressing enthusiasm for the depth and scope of the new content.

While the announcement may not have been the flashiest of the day, the grapple hook in particular has already captured the imagination of the player base. Judging by the reveal video, the tool functions as a genuine mobility device capable of anchoring to a point and swinging the user in any direction, with the added ability to hook onto ARC bots for a ride—a feature that has been met with both delight and the promise of chaos.

As Embark continues to shape Arc Raiders into a more refined and expansive live-service title, Frozen Trail sets a clear tone for what larger, more deliberate updates can offer. With a new frontier to explore, fresh threats to overcome, and a growing sense of personalization, the update positions the game for a compelling next chapter.