Arc Raiders Frozen Trail Update: First video trailer is here
After a spectacular debut last year, 2026 was a much quieter year for Arc Raiders. The extraction shooter’s decline in popularity is well-documented, and while it still maintains a loyal and active player base, it’s nowhere near as large as it once was. To deliver more substantial improvements and new content, developer Embark Studios suspended monthly updates in May. Next month, on October 8th, “Frozen Trail,” the biggest update Arc Raiders has ever received, will be released.
Long-time players will be familiar with the Emperor, an incredibly massive Arc enemy that patrols the edge of the Blue Gate map and is occasionally glimpsed through the storm during the tutorial. On the new Pendola Pass map, players will finally encounter an Emperor—albeit a fallen one. This colossal machine leans against a mountainside, and Arc Raiders can explore it up close. The dimensions are gigantic, and the experience is meant to feel like players don’t belong there.
As for the actual threats to raiders, the frigate appears on multiple maps and seems to be Arc Raiders’ version of an endgame raid. Embark Studios hasn’t released full details yet, but according to a press release, it’s a “massive flying aircraft carrier that will pose a significant challenge to experienced raiders” and offers rare loot. Furthermore, the frigate requires puzzle-solving and sabotage rather than simply being destroyed. It represents an interesting departure from previous difficult enemies like the Queen and the Matriarch, which could simply absorb an extreme amount of damage.
On board the frigate, you’ll find the Hydra. This brand-new enemy in Arc Raiders is essentially a turret capable of engaging multiple enemies simultaneously thanks to its three separate weapon systems. On Pendola Pass lurks the Skulker, a smaller enemy that will fire at you from a distance, keeping you constantly on your toes. Another new enemy is the hulking, aggressive Bully, who—similar to the Leaper—uses machine learning. Both will appear on other maps later, but not immediately.
Arc Raiders Frozen Trail Update with two new weapons
Players can defend themselves against these enemies with two new weapons: the Stiletto, a light assault rifle, and the Bantam, a short-barreled revolver. Even better, the Arc Raiders Frozen Trail update also introduces a new weapon upgrade system for modifying existing weapons. For example, the Burletta pistol can be made fully automatic after building a new workbench, or the Rattler can be modified to fire incendiary ammunition. A total of 15 weapon upgrades are available with the launch of Frozen Trail.
There are also new tools that players can use in the game: According to the development team, the grappling hook is one of the most ambitious gadgets in Arc Raiders. Its functionality is intuitive: You shoot a rope onto a surface and can then climb up it or rappel down a building. Of course, you can also swing across chasms like Spider-Man or even attach yourself to an Arc Raider enemy and let them pull you along.
New items
The grappling hook arrives alongside two other new items that function similarly: the rope launcher and the pull grenade. The rope launcher allows you to connect two points, for example, to prevent an enemy from chasing you from the air. The pull grenade extends ropes to nearby enemies and pulls them in – extremely useful for luring other raiders out of cover in the middle of PvP.
Embark Studios also plans to introduce a much-requested feature with Frozen Trail: weapon skins. In true Arc Raiders style, these can’t simply be unlocked or purchased. Some will be available in the shop and via a new Frozen Trail reward pass, but most weapon skins, similar to blueprints, must be found as loot. Two new instruments are also included: a banjo and a harmonica. Thanks to the popularity of Arc Raiders photography, an in-game camera will also be added.
Pendola Pass Map
Pendola Pass also brings a fresh twist to the tried-and-tested formula. While other maps offer similar extraction methods – calling for an elevator or train and boarding—in this snowy mountain range, the only way out is via a gondola. Space is limited, however: with the Arc Raiders Frozen Trail update, only three players can extract simultaneously. Additionally, the new weather condition “Flash Freeze” forces players to seek shelter immediately before the cold sets in.
The skill tree is also being reworked: some skills are being removed, others adjusted, and new ones added. The goal is to make skill choices more meaningful. Grøndal explained that players will now have to choose between a few different skills, instead of being able to unlock everything. Along with the weapon enhancement system, this seems to encourage a greater diversity of character builds, in contrast to the previous system where the differences between players were minimal.
Frozen Trail also finally introduces outposts, offering players more customization options. While they can’t (yet) be entered (Grøndal confirmed the team plans to make them explorable later), players can display furniture, workbenches, trinkets, and more. According to Grøndal, this is the first step toward giving players a “home on the surface.”
The Arc Raiders Frozen Trail Update will be released on Thursday, October 8th, as a free update for PS5, Windows PC and Xbox Series X.
