Embark Studios will release Frozen Trail on October 8, 2026—the largest update for ARC Raiders since its launch in October 2025, and the first update to reach version 2.0. This update comes less than a month before the game’s first anniversary and will include a brand-new Frozen Mountains map, a landable ARC warship, three new enemy ARCs, an expanded player hub, and a revamped reward system. As a major update celebrating the game’s first anniversary, Embark has certainly gone all out this time.
An update "almost like shipping the game again"
This version numbering scheme was carefully considered: unlike the incremental updates of previous game versions, this update skips the usual sequence of incremental patches and upgrades the client directly from version 1.47 to version 2.0. Executive Producer Aleksander Grøndal set the stage when announcing this update, telling the media that the scale of the update was so vast that it “almost feel like we’re shipping the game again.”
This is also Embark Studios’ first major release since announcing in May that it would slow down its update pace. Going forward, Embark will maintain a frequency of approximately two updates of this scale per year—roughly once every six months—while continuing to release balance patches, events, and store updates between them. In an interview with GamesBeat in early September, Grøndal described this shift as a trade-off between quality and quantity, noting that for a studio that “can’t beat anyone on quantity,” larger, more polished updates are a better fit.
Pendola Pass: a fallen Emperor in the ice
Pendola Pass, an ancient Italian mountain village, is not only the heart of the Frozen Trail but also a transportation hub of the Exodus Era, located beyond the peaks surrounding the “Rust Belt.” According to Embark’s official trailer, this narrow valley preserves a supermarket and a lifeless town square left over from the Old World, as well as an Exodus Era observation post and a buried train station. Threats lurk both above and below ground in this new map, which not only offers greater vertical depth than existing areas but also represents a major step forward in the ARC universe’s storyline, marking the first step as the human resistance emerges from the underground back onto the surface.
The goal of this expedition is to investigate the wreckage of an Emperor, a giant ARC walker that was previously only visible from a distance but now lies sprawled across the mountainside. Rare technology is hidden within the wreckage, and the squad must find a way to access it while fending off a “scrambled ARC response” and brutal instant-freeze effects. A blizzard will strike in the form of a new map condition, punishing anyone who strays too far from their shelter.
The Frigate: high-altitude boarding action
The Frigate—as the Raiders call it—is one of the ARC’s largest vessels and has been dispatched to deal with this fallen Emperor. The Raiders cannot take it down from the ground, so their most elite members must find a way to board it and battle both familiar ARC foes and new enemies. There’s more than one group of Raiders eyeing the Frigate’s spoils. Hundreds of feet above the ground, every Raider who decides to board the Frigate will face the dilemma of whether to form a temporary alliance or open fire on their own kind.
Three new ARC join the roster
• Bully — a machine-learned, aggressively charging enemy that gallops onto a Raider's position, cedes no ground and chains lethal attacks. Cover discipline and timed shots are the stated counter.
• Skulker — an ambush predator that skirts the edge of vision, strikes in a flurry of blows and retreats the instant it is lost from sight.
• Hydra — a stationary Frigate turret split into three stacked, autonomous sections, each with its own weapon, capable of pressuring entire squads.
Outposts, Amplified Weapons and a wider kit
The Outpost, an extension of the Raider Den, is situated between the Rust Belt and the mountains. This marks the first step for Raiders to embark on broader explorations; here, along with the Research Workstation, they can unlock more advanced weapon customization and modification features.
Once the Research Workstation is upgraded to its highest level, it unlocks an amplified weapon system. Fifteen firearms will no longer be subject to current level restrictions and will gain access to a fifth quality tier. This isn’t merely a simple stat boost—it opens a new branch of performance options. Official information currently includes a fully automatic Burletta, a Renegade fitted with a scope, and a Rattler firing incendiary rounds from a 64-round magazine.
The arsenal also features the Stiletto, a combat rifle with low crafting costs that uses light ammunition, offering players more options for long-range combat in the early game; and the Bantam, a short-barreled revolver that uses heavy ammunition and supports hip-firing. New gear includes a grappling hook, a tether launcher, and a yank grenade to offer more possibilities on maps with greater vertical scale, as well as a working camera with manual focus and selfie mode to help players document their journey back to the surface. The musical instruments has been expanded to include a harmonica and a banjo—the banjo blueprint is only available with the Collector Set DLC — while Weapon Stencils allow players to customize the appearance of their guns. However, be aware that Raiders who kill you can loot these customized weapons.
Reward Pass replaces Raider Decks as Cred expires
Frozen Trail will be removing Raider Decks and replacing them with a Level 60 Reward Pass featuring three progression paths. There have been previous reports that Cred will expire on October 8: any remaining old-version progression currency in accounts will be reset to zero when the 2.0 launch, which is why Cred will expire on that moment. Embark officials stated that the reset is due to veteran players having stockpiled enough Cred to complete the new decks as soon as they are released. This update also includes a redesigned skill tree, new quest lines, and various general optimizations.
The resource loop gets deeper — and more demanding
As a extraction game, the economy system has become much clearer following this update: players’ spending needs are increasing, while the ways to earn money are becoming more difficult. Not only that, but actions such as crafting weapons and gear and upgrading workbenches will continuously consume the gold and materials players have earned. The upcoming Research Workbench will further increase the costs of crafting and maintenance.
Risk does the rest. Anything carried topside — weapons, mods, stenciled guns — can be dropped on death, and loot in a backpack counts for nothing unless a squad extracts. A harder map, a ship full of independent turrets and a charging Bully all raise the likely rate of attrition, pushing Raiders to restock and rebuild loadouts more often. The Cred retirement and Reward Pass change reshape the cadence of reward income at the same moment the PvE test — with its deliberately lowered loot value — offers a lower-yield alternative.
Risk will do the rest. Weapons, mods,stenciled guns — any item you’re carrying may drop upon death, and loot in your backpack is permanently left behind on the surface unless you manage to evacuate; otherwise, you’ll walk away empty-handed. More challenging new maps and new ARCs all impact Raiders’ evacuations, forcing them to restock supplies and gear more frequently. While the Cred retirement mechanism and Reward Pass changes have reshaped the pace of reward acquisition, the PvE test—where loot value has been intentionally reduced—also offers a lower-reward alternative.
The challenge Raiders are about to face may not be a lack of skill, but rather a lack of time; Raiders will undoubtedly be increasingly looked for help with the endless gathering supplies. A reliable third-party provider of ARC Raiders items and services allows players to replenish their gear and materials without having to repeatedly gather resources, enabling time-pressed players to quickly return to the battlefield—EZBUFF (ezbuff.com) is precisely the platform that offers this kind of time-saving assistance, with services based entirely on legitimate in-game resources rather than any unfair advantages.
A one-week PvE matchmaking test follows
From Oct. 13–20, Embark will test a PvE matchmaking toggle. Sessions feature zero player-to-player damage, mix Solos, Duos and Trios, and pay reduced overall loot to offset the safety. The Frigate, Night Raids, Hidden Bunker and Locked Gate remain PvPvE-only, PvPvE ratings are untouched, and the toggle is removed after the test while the studio reviews results.
