ARC Raiders Free Weekend Pendola Pass access is available now, and there’s good news for anyone joining friends who already own the game. During the October 8 to 12, 2026 free-play event, new players can enter the snowy Pendola Pass map immediately by joining a squad with someone who has already unlocked it. Embark Studios has confirmed this special access rule, allowing newcomers to experience Frozen Trail without completing the usual map progression first.
The free weekend coincides with the launch of Frozen Trail 2.0, which introduces the abandoned Italian village, a fallen Emperor and several powerful new ARC enemies. It’s a fairly dangerous place for your first few raids, but having an experienced teammate along should make exploring considerably easier. Here’s how ARC Raiders Free Weekend Pendola Pass access works, what you’ll need before joining and what happens when the free period finishes.
How to Access Pendola Pass During the ARC Raiders Free Weekend
The usual progression requirements for Pendola Pass can be bypassed during the free weekend, provided you’re playing alongside somebody who has already unlocked the map.
To enter Pendola Pass immediately:
- Download ARC Raiders during the October 8 to 12 free weekend on Steam, PlayStation or Xbox.
- Complete the opening steps needed to access multiplayer matchmaking.
- Invite a friend who has already unlocked Pendola Pass, or join their squad.
- Have your squad select Pendola Pass from the available destinations.
- Start matchmaking together to enter the new Frozen Trail map.
You can then explore Pendola Pass alongside your teammate, even if your own character hasn’t reached the normal map unlock requirements.
Embark’s announcement specifically confirms access through an unlocked teammate. It doesn’t state that the experienced player must always be the party leader, only that you’re grouped with someone who already has access.
Image credit: Embark Studios
Can You Play Pendola Pass Without an Experienced Teammate?
You can still work towards Pendola Pass through the game’s normal progression, but the free-weekend shortcut requires an unlocked teammate.
If you’re playing completely solo on a new account, you’ll need to meet the standard requirements before selecting the map yourself.
Fortunately, the event gives newcomers access to the full game rather than a restricted demo. You can spend your early raids learning the extraction mechanics, completing quests and gathering equipment while progressing towards additional destinations.
If Pendola Pass is your main reason for trying Frozen Trail, joining an experienced friend is the quickest confirmed way to get there during the event.
When Does ARC Raiders Free Weekend Pendola Pass Access End?
The free weekend runs from October 8 at 09:00 UTC until October 12 at 08:00 UTC.
For UK players, that’s 10:00 AM BST on Thursday, October 8 until 9:00 AM BST on Monday, October 12.
During this period, ARC Raiders is available to play without purchasing the game. The promotion covers Steam, Xbox and PlayStation, although the PS5 offer in Germany carries a €0.25 charge.
The special Pendola Pass access arrangement is specifically confirmed for new players participating in the free weekend.
Embark hasn’t announced that the same exception will continue indefinitely after October 12. If you purchase ARC Raiders later, you’ll be playing under whatever map progression rules apply to your account at that time.
What Can New Players Explore on Pendola Pass?
Pendola Pass is a frozen mountain settlement beyond the Rust Belt, built around an abandoned Italian village and an old Exodus transport hub.
The main landmarks include a supermarket, town square, observatory and buried train depot. Towering above the village is a fallen Emperor, an enormous ARC machine containing rare technology.
The Frozen Trail update also introduces powerful new enemies, including Bully, Skulker and Hydra.
Image credit: Embark Studios
Exploring the map isn’t quite like visiting the older Rust Belt locations. Pendola Pass has steep terrain, buildings at different elevations and sudden Flash Freeze conditions that can make travelling through exposed areas dangerous.
You’ll also encounter Dynamic Loot Zones, which change the value of loot in certain areas between raids.
Even with a friend providing immediate access, your squad still needs to survive the usual ARC threats and extract successfully to keep the equipment collected during the raid.
Can Free Weekend Players Access the Frigate?
The Frigate is another major addition in Frozen Trail 2.0, but it works differently from the Pendola Pass map.
It’s a rotating map condition featuring an enormous ARC vessel that Raiders can board to recover valuable technology.
The Frigate condition can appear on multiple maps and isn’t exclusive to Pendola Pass.
Getting into Pendola Pass through the free-weekend shortcut therefore doesn’t guarantee that the Frigate encounter will be active in your raid.
If you’re interested in boarding the vessel, check the destination screen for the ARC Frigate condition and make sure your squad is prepared for a difficult encounter.
What If Pendola Pass Is Still Locked?
If you’re having trouble using the ARC Raiders Free Weekend Pendola Pass shortcut, the first thing to check is whether your teammate has actually unlocked the map.
Owning ARC Raiders or having downloaded Frozen Trail doesn’t automatically mean their character has access to every destination.
Check that you’re grouped with the correct teammate and that the squad is selecting Pendola Pass together.
It’s also worth confirming that your game has installed the latest update, particularly if you’ve just downloaded ARC Raiders for the first time.
The special access rule is confirmed by Embark, although the studio hasn’t published a separate troubleshooting procedure for new players who encounter problems with it.
What Should You Bring Into Pendola Pass?
For your first visit, a relatively inexpensive loadout is a good place to start. You’ll be entering an unfamiliar environment with powerful ARC enemies and other Raiders searching for valuable equipment.
Bring enough ammunition and healing supplies for a normal raid, then allow your experienced teammate to guide you towards a manageable objective.
Spend some time learning the landmarks and extraction routes rather than immediately trying to recover the rare technology inside the fallen Emperor.
Pendola Pass uses Ballistic Gondolas for extraction, which adds another challenge when you’re ready to leave. These must be called in, and you’ll need to reach the landing location before escaping.
A successful first extraction is a good achievement in itself, particularly on a map you’ve never visited before.
Is Pendola Pass Available Throughout the Free Weekend?
Yes. Frozen Trail 2.0 launched on October 8, so the new map is part of the game throughout the free-play event.
You can return to Pendola Pass for additional raids while the event is active, provided you meet the relevant access conditions.
For existing owners, this is a great opportunity to introduce friends to Frozen Trail without asking them to buy the game first. You can explore the new village together, tackle ARC enemies and help newcomers understand how extraction works.
ARC Raiders Free Weekend Pendola Pass access gives new players an unusually quick introduction to the latest content. With the full game available until October 12 and the teammate shortcut already active, there’s plenty of time to explore the snowy region and see whether the extraction adventure is something you want to continue playing.
Official source: Embark Studios: Play ARC Raiders for Free, October 8–12
Official source: Embark Studios free weekend announcement.
