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ARC Raiders’ Frozen Trail 2.0 update went live on October 8, 2026. It adds the Pendola Pass map, enemies, weapons, quests and a redesigned progression system, alongside practical fixes such as letting downed players open the map and drop loot directly from containers. The notes do not establish that players had been asking for those specific fixes for a year, but they do show a notable mix of new content, balance changes and everyday quality-of-life work.
What’s in the ARC Raiders Frozen Trail update?
Embark described Frozen Trail as its biggest update since launch. The October 8 release combines new content and systems with gameplay adjustments and disclosed issues. Its headline additions include:
- Pendola Pass: a frozen Italian mountain setting where Embark says it will test Dynamic Loot Zones. An area’s loot value may vary between raids, while its underlying loot type remains consistent.
- New threats: the Frigate and Redirection map conditions, plus the Bully, Skulker and Hydra enemies.
- New weapons and weapon progression: the Bantam and Stiletto, alongside Amplified Weapons.
- Progression and crafting: a revamped Skill Tree, the Outpost, and the Research Bench.
- More objectives and rewards: 22 new quests and a Reward Pass with 60 levels across its free and premium tracks.
Embark also increased overall loot value on Riven Tides by approximately 15%, according to the official notes. The patch lists a maximum stash capacity of 328 slots without Expedition bonuses.
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Read the official Frozen Trail 2.0 update notes for the complete change list.
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What did the Frozen Trail patch notes fix?
Several adjustments target actions players perform during ordinary raids, rather than adding another progression layer:
- Players can open the map while downed and drop loot directly from containers.
- Contextual pings are improved, and players can scramble up steep slopes for a short time.
- Embark says hit registration when shooting ARC enemies has improved. A slide state now follows tumbling for too long.
- Quest sorting, reward and milestone progress displays, and recipe-unlock notifications receive fixes or improvements.
- The notes also include corrections to party joining and voice-chat behavior.
These are concrete examples of the sort of friction-reducing changes that can make a patch feel attentive. The notes do not show that players had requested each one for exactly a year, however, so the title’s year-long phrasing works as color rather than a verified timeline.
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What changed in the ARC Raiders Skill Tree?
Embark says player feedback and internal data suggested the previous Skill Tree did not offer sufficiently interesting character-building choices. The redesign rearranges the tree and modifies or replaces underperforming skills to make player decisions matter more.
- Mid-branch nodes: require a choice between two skills.
- End-of-branch nodes: after investing enough in a branch, players can select up to two of three skills.
Embark says it expects to tune the tree further after observing how players engage with it. The notes describe the intended structure, not a guarantee that every build will feel equally viable.
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What happened to Cred and Raider Decks?
The Reward Pass replaces the progression structure formerly associated with Raider Decks. Cred is removed and replaced by Reward Points, which are automatically applied to the currently active pass. Only one pass can be active at a time.
The Frozen Trail Pass has 60 levels across free and premium tracks. Rewards from existing Raider Decks were moved into a Legacy Pass, and rewards already unlocked remain granted. This separates the new pass progression from previously earned rewards rather than wiping them.
What are the major combat and item balance changes?
The update changes explosive damage by target type and adjusts the rarity and role of two hand cannons. Embark’s figures are changes described in the October 8 notes:
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| Change | What the notes say |
|---|---|
| Explosives versus ARC armor plates | Over 50% more damage |
| Explosives versus fragile parts | Around 30% less damage |
| Anvil | Rarity changes from Green to Blue |
| Bantam | Takes the uncommon hand-cannon role |
| Snap Hook range | Reduced from 20 m to 18 m |
| Snap Hook durability per use | Increased from 2% to 4% |
| Snap Hook power cost | Increased from 50 to 60 |
Embark frames the Snap Hook as a burst-mobility tool, with greater commitment per use after these changes. The new Grappling Hook expands the mobility-item set; the notes do not establish that either tool is universally better.
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What are the new ARC Raiders known issues?
The official October 8 notes list issues that players could encounter at launch. They should be read as a dated snapshot, not a guarantee that each remains unresolved after later updates:
- The Tether Launcher’s repair option is unavailable.
- Field Repair can sometimes remain unavailable after it is unlocked; the stated workaround is to restart the game.
- Some weapon meshes can be partially invisible when attachments are equipped.
- Footsteps can occasionally become inaudible after shoulder-swapping while sprinting.
- Rarely, players can spawn into an invisible lobby.
- A Hydra can detect and shoot through walls in the Cargo area.
- Standing on the side of a Cargo drop can instantly eliminate a player.
The Outpost has a separate set of disclosed problems, including camera obstruction, furniture clipping, and some UI and lighting issues.
Do the notes report performance gains?
Embark lists performance optimization work and support for AMD FSR 4.1.1, but the update notes do not publish benchmark results. They provide no measured frame-rate or loading-time improvement, so the implementation notes should not be read as evidence of a particular performance gain.
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Embark’s October 8 announcement said ARC Raiders would be free to play from October 8 through October 12, 2026. It also noted a €0.25 fee for PS5 in Germany and announced a 50% discount on all platforms at the time of publication. Those were date-bounded offers, not a statement that the game is free now.
The same announcement described the Collector Set DLC as digital content that includes a cosmetic set, the Renzo, Dragon’s Breath Weapon Stencil, Bob Hair Style, 2,400 Raider Tokens, and access to the Frozen Trail Premium Reward Pass. See Embark’s launch announcement for its original offer details.
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