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Embark Studios released Frozen Trail 2.0 for ARC Raiders on October 8, 2026, and its official patch notes describe it as “our biggest update since launch.” The update adds a new map, Pendola Pass; new enemies and weapons; a grappling hook and several other gadgets; a reworked skill tree; a new progression pass; a player Outpost with a research station; and 22 new quests. Below is what the official notes list, what early previews reported, and where the claims stop.
What Frozen Trail 2.0 adds
Embark’s notes group the update’s highlights into a short feature list. Each item is covered in the sections that follow.
- Pendola Pass, a new map, with Frigate and Redirection map conditions
- Bully, Skulker, and Hydra enemies
- Bantam and Stiletto weapons, plus Amplified Weapons
- A revamped skill tree
- The Outpost and Research Bench
- Quest-system improvements and 22 new quests
- A Reward Pass with 60 levels
- Weapon stencils and furniture designs
- New gadgets: the Grappling Hook, cameras, Tether Launcher, Yank Grenade, Mountaineer’s Detector, Banjo, and Harmonica
Pendola Pass and new map conditions
Pendola Pass is the update’s headline location. GamesRadar, which is secondary reporting, describes it as a snowy, mountainous Italian setting with vertical spaces. PC Gamer’s Morgan Park, who attended a preview session, called it visually distinctive but familiar in feel. The official notes name two map conditions, Frigate and Redirection, but they do not describe how either one changes a run. Treat the condition names as a checklist to watch for in-game rather than a settled list of effects.
New enemies and weapons
The official notes name three new enemy types and two new weapons, plus a weapon-modification feature. They do not provide per-enemy or per-weapon statistics, so specifics such as damage, health, or range should be checked in-game or in later detailed guides.
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Enemies: Bully, Skulker, and Hydra
Bully, Skulker, and Hydra are the three new enemy types named in Embark’s notes. Pendola Pass and the map conditions are where the update’s new encounters are concentrated, so the enemy list and the map list are worth reading together.
Weapons: Bantam, Stiletto, and Amplified Weapons
Bantam and Stiletto are the two new weapons. Amplified Weapons is a separate listed feature in the notes, and the notes do not spell out how it works beyond its name. GamesRadar summarizes the update as adding a weapon modification system, which fits with the Amplified Weapons entry, but it is secondary reporting, so Embark’s wording is the reference point here.
Movement and utility gadgets
The gadget list is where Frozen Trail 2.0 changes how players move through the world, and it is the part of the update early previews discussed most.
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Grappling Hook
Morgan Park spent three hours with the update in a preview session and found the grappling hook useful for climbing, swinging, descending, and interacting with the environment. He described it as immediately enjoyable and noted that using it can involve trial and error. His account is a limited preview impression from before the public release, not a broad read on how players as a whole are using it.
Other gadgets
- Cameras: listed in the notes without further detail.
- Tether Launcher and Yank Grenade: listed in the notes. Park said he did not test either one thoroughly, so no hands-on verdict on them is available from that preview.
- Mountaineer’s Detector, Banjo, and Harmonica: listed in the notes without descriptions in the official summary.
The skill tree rework
The skill tree changes how players pick skills. Embark’s notes describe the new structure this way:
- The middle of each branch now offers a binary choice between two skills.
- At the end of each branch, players choose from three skills and can select up to two, after meeting the required skill-point investment.
- A middle-branch choice can be changed by resetting the skill tree.
Embark says the goal is to make skill choices more meaningful and to better express playstyle. In his preview, Park said the rework did not immediately change how he played, so whether the new structure reshapes builds is something players will judge over more time.
Reward Pass replaces Cred
The Reward Pass replaces Cred as the progression currency described in the notes. Reward Points apply to whichever pass is active, and only one pass can be active at a time.
| Pass | Levels | Tracks | Status in the notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frozen Trail Reward Pass | 60 | Free and Premium | New pass for Frozen Trail 2.0 |
| Legacy Pass | Not stated | Not stated | Existing Raider Decks move here and remain progressable |
Outpost, Research Bench, and cosmetics
The Outpost is a base-building space that can be expanded with modules. Unlocking it is done through a project and also grants access to the research station. The notes also list a Research Bench as part of the same system.
Cosmetic sources
The notes split weapon stencils and furniture designs by where they come from. Some items are tied to the Frozen Trail Pass, some to DLC, and the rest can be found Topside.
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- Capture and Tame Dinosaurs: Discover over 100 different dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures on the island, finding ways to tame them into useful additions for your tribe's dyno herd
- Survive Above All: Hunger, thirst, basic safety, and protecting yourself from the weather are all part of the game
- Harvest, Hunt and Build: Cut down trees and turn them into a basic home, which you can quickly expand into a Jurassic estate. Hunt for meat, scavenge for plants (or start your own garden!)
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| Item | Total listed | Exclusive to Frozen Trail Pass | Exclusive to DLC | Findable Topside |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weapon Stencils | 14 | 5 (Premium Pass) | 1 | 8 |
| Furniture Designs | 100 | 4 | 1 | 73 (remaining 22 not stated) |
Stash space
The notes give a stash maximum of 328 slots. That figure excludes Expedition bonuses and any acquired Nomadic Envoy space, which can raise it.
Quests
Embark lists 22 new quests and says the quest system has been improved. The notes do not break those improvements down further, so the best way to judge them is to play through the new quest chains.
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Free play and Twitch Drops
Frozen Trail 2.0 went live on October 8, 2026. Embark’s official news listing advertises free play from October 8 through October 12, 2026. That window was still open on October 9, 2026, but it has a fixed end date, so check the official news page to confirm it is still running before you plan around it.
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GamesRadar reports that the free trial covered Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox and gave access to the full game. That platform detail comes from secondary reporting, so confirm it against the official live announcement before relying on it.
Twitch Drops run from October 8 through November 4, 2026, according to the official notes. Viewers need at least 60 minutes of watch time for the Oxygen Respirator and 120 minutes for the Mailbox. Like the free-play window, these dates are time-limited and should be checked on the official source when you read this.
How much weight to give “biggest”
“Biggest update since launch” is Embark’s own description. The official notes list features and counts, including 22 quests, 60 pass levels, and 14 weapon stencils, but they do not measure the update against earlier patches by map area, player count, or development effort. Early previews also predate the public release. The most reliable way to judge the update is to compare what is listed above against what you actually find in play.
The official release notes, last updated October 8, 2026, state: “Frozen Trail is our biggest update since launch, packed with new features, fresh challenges, and a long list of fixes and improvements.” The notes are signed by the studio, not an individual.
Proximity chat also received speech animation according to the official notes, which matters if you play with others by voice.
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