ARC Raiders Frozen Trail: Everything Released October 8

ARC Raiders Frozen Trail is now live, bringing a new map, three dangerous ARC enemies, fresh weapons and some major changes to progression. Released on October 8, 2026, Update 2.0 is the biggest expansion to ARC Raiders since launch, with Pendola Pass opening up a snowy region beyond the Rust Belt. There’s plenty to explore, but the update also gives returning players new reasons to rethink their loadouts and character builds.

The biggest additions go well beyond the new location. ARC Raiders Frozen Trail introduces the Frigate and Redirection map conditions, a customizable Outpost, amplified weapons, a reworked skill tree and a completely new Reward Pass system. There are also 22 additional quests, new gadgets and several gameplay improvements. Here’s everything included in the update and what it means for your next raid.

ARC Raiders Frozen Trail 2.0: What’s New?

The October 8 update introduces the following features:

• Pendola Pass: A new snow-covered map beyond the Rust Belt.
• Frigate and Redirection: Two new map conditions.
• Bully, Skulker and Hydra: Three new ARC enemies.
• Bantam and Stiletto: Two new weapons.
• Amplified Weapons: Fifth-tier upgrades with additional weapon abilities.
• Outpost: A customizable home with modules, furniture and research facilities.
• Skill Tree: New abilities, improved skills and redesigned branching choices.
• Reward Pass: A new progression system replacing Cred with Reward Points.
• New gadgets: Grappling Hook, cameras, Tether Launcher, Yank Grenade and Mountaineer’s Detector.
• Additional content: 22 quests, Weapon Stencils, instruments and new furniture designs.

The update is available now, and Embark is also offering a limited free-play period from October 8 to October 12.

Image credit: Embark Studios

Pendola Pass Opens a New Region Beyond the Rust Belt

Pendola Pass is the headline addition to ARC Raiders Frozen Trail. The new map takes players into an abandoned Italian village and former Exodus transport hub, where freezing conditions and an increased ARC presence make exploration particularly dangerous.

The area includes a deserted supermarket, town square, observatory and buried train depot. Looming over the settlement is a fallen Emperor, one of the enormous ARC machines, with valuable technology waiting to be recovered.

Players can reach the new region using the Ballistic Gondolas, which are operational following the October 8 update.

Pendola Pass also introduces a Dynamic Loot Zone system. This changes the value of loot found in certain areas between raids, making familiar scavenging routes less predictable. The type of loot available in each zone stays the same, but its overall value can rise or fall.

That should make exploring different parts of the map more rewarding than repeatedly visiting the same handful of buildings.

Image credit: Embark Studios

Frigate and Redirection Add New Map Conditions

ARC Raiders Frozen Trail adds two map conditions called Frigate and Redirection.

The Frigate is a particularly challenging encounter involving a huge ARC vessel. Players who manage to get aboard must navigate its interior, open routes through the ship and survive encounters with powerful enemies.

The narrow passageways make fighting difficult, especially when other Raiders arrive looking for the same rewards. Cooperation is possible, but there’s nothing stopping another squad from turning the encounter into a firefight.

Redirection is the second new map condition confirmed in Update 2.0. It joins the existing rotation of conditions, giving players another scenario to encounter during their raids.

Three New ARC Enemies: Bully, Skulker and Hydra

The new enemies introduce three very different combat challenges.

Bully is an aggressive, fast-moving ARC machine that charges towards Raiders and unleashes powerful attacks. Keeping cover between yourself and the machine is important, especially when it starts closing the distance.

Skulker behaves differently. It prefers to stay out of sight, waiting for an opportunity to ambush distracted players. It can disappear from view before attacking again, making it especially troublesome when you’re already fighting another enemy.

Hydra is a large stationary turret divided into three independently operating sections. Its multiple weapons can threaten entire squads, and the machine appears around the Frigate and fallen Emperor encounters.

Against a Hydra, moving between cover and coordinating attacks with teammates gives you a better chance than standing in the open.

Bantam, Stiletto and Amplified Weapons

ARC Raiders Frozen Trail introduces two weapons alongside a substantial expansion to the existing upgrade system.

The Stiletto is a light-ammo battle rifle designed as an accessible alternative to the Renegade. It’s relatively inexpensive to craft and rewards accurate shooting, although firing too rapidly reduces its accuracy.

The Bantam is a heavy-ammo revolver with strong stopping power and a distinctive hip-fire capability. It fills the uncommon hand-cannon role previously occupied by the Anvil.

The Anvil itself has moved from green to blue rarity as part of the weapon balance changes.

For players with established arsenals, Amplified Weapons may be the bigger addition. Upgrading the Research Workstation at your Outpost allows access to a fifth weapon quality tier.

This introduces branching enhancements that can change how familiar weapons behave. Embark has highlighted examples including a fully automatic Burletta, a scoped Renegade and a Rattler using incendiary ammunition with a 64-round magazine.

Fifteen weapons are included in the initial rollout, with more planned for future updates.

New Grappling Hook, Tethers and Cameras

Movement and equipment also receive plenty of attention in ARC Raiders Frozen Trail.

The new Grappling Hook lets Raiders climb difficult terrain, descend from buildings and swing across gaps. It opens up routes that would otherwise require a longer journey around obstacles.

The Tether Launcher connects two points with a wire that can restrain enemies. The Yank Grenade uses a similar mechanic to violently pull nearby targets, potentially dragging an enemy from cover or bringing flying ARC closer to the ground.

There are also Basic and Advanced Cameras, a Mountaineer’s Detector, and two musical instruments: the Banjo and Harmonica.

Cameras come with photography features including zoom, focus adjustments and a selfie mode. Pictures are saved to the Codex, and several existing quests have been updated to use the camera for photographic objectives.

The older Snap Hook has received balance adjustments too, including a shorter 18-metre range and increased power and durability costs per use.

How the New Outpost and Research Bench Work

One of the larger progression additions is the Outpost, a customizable extension of the Raider Den.

Unlocking it requires completing an in-game project. The first objective, Research Topside Living Conditions, asks you to photograph a farmland house using a Camera.

You can purchase a Camera from Shani, craft one at the Workbench or find one while exploring Topside.

Once unlocked, the Outpost can be expanded with modules and decorated using furniture. Players can collect Furniture Designs during raids, learn them and craft items for their new space.

The update introduces 100 Furniture Designs, including 73 found Topside, 22 obtained through Outpost upgrades and additional designs associated with the Reward Pass and DLC.

Unlocking the Outpost also gives access to the new Research Bench, which is central to the expanded weapon upgrade system.

ARC Raiders Frozen Trail Skill Tree Changes

The skill tree has received one of its largest changes in Update 2.0, with several existing skills adjusted or replaced and new choices introduced.

The middle section of each branch now contains a choice between two skills. You can select only one, although resetting your skill tree allows you to reconsider that decision.

At the end of each branch, players can unlock up to two skills from a choice of three after investing the required skill points.

Existing abilities have received improvements as well. Fight or Flight provides approximately 25% more stamina per level, Stubborn Mule has improved stamina regeneration, and Back on Your Feet now increases healing from 30 to 40.

These changes give players more freedom to specialize their character rather than following the same familiar route through every branch.

Reward Pass Replaces Cred and Raider Deck Progression

ARC Raiders Frozen Trail also introduces a new Reward Pass system.

Cred has been removed and replaced with Reward Points, which are automatically applied towards whichever Reward Pass you currently have active.

The Frozen Trail Pass contains 60 levels across Free and Premium tracks. Players can earn rewards through Feats and weekly milestones, including cosmetics, outfits, weapon customization items and Raider Tokens.

Existing Raider Decks have been moved into a free Legacy Pass. Previously unlocked rewards remain available, and players can continue their older progression by selecting the Legacy Pass as their active pass.

Only one Reward Pass can be active at a time.

Feats are now divided into three difficulty levels:

• Easy Feats award 15 Reward Points.
• Medium Feats award 25 Reward Points.
• Hard Feats award 50 Reward Points.

There are also three weekly milestones, each awarding 250 Reward Points. Completing all three provides 750 additional Reward Points each week.

Other Important Changes in Update 2.0

Alongside the new content, Embark has made several changes to existing gameplay systems.

The maximum stash capacity has increased to 328 slots without Expedition bonuses or other additional capacity rewards. Heavy Shields now have reduced durability decay and a smaller movement penalty, while explosive weapons have been rebalanced against ARC armour and vulnerable parts.

Players can also open the map while downed, drop loot directly from containers and use the new scrambling movement mechanic on steep slopes.

There are various fixes to quests, audio, animation, map geometry and performance. The update also brings improved memory usage, AMD FSR 4.1.1 support and a redesigned map selection screen.

Embark has removed the Solo vs. Squads matchmaking option while it re-evaluates the feature.

ARC Raiders Frozen Trail Free Weekend: October 8 to 12

Players who haven’t purchased ARC Raiders can try the game during its free-play period running from October 8 through October 12, 2026.

The game is also discounted by 50% across platforms during the promotional period. On PS5 in Germany, a €0.25 charge applies to the free-play offer.

For returning players, ARC Raiders Frozen Trail provides a substantial amount of new progression to work through. Between the Outpost, amplified weapons, skill tree changes and Reward Pass, there’s plenty to unlock alongside the new map and its challenges.

And for anyone heading towards Pendola Pass for the first time, the fallen Emperor and Frigate offer two particularly interesting reasons to venture beyond the Rust Belt.

Official source: Embark Studios: Frozen Trail 2.0 Update Patch Notes