Hero image: ARC Raiders screenshot. Image: Embark Studios, via ARC Raiders
First Look At ARC Raiders’ Biggest Update Streams Thursday Morning; Frozen Trail Launches 8 October
Embark Studios will premiere a first look at Frozen Trail on the official ARC Raiders YouTube channel at 10am PDT on 23 September. In Australia, that is 3am AEST on Thursday 24 September.
The update itself launches on 8 October. Embark describes it as the extraction shooter’s biggest update since launch.
A short teaser posted on 18 September showed only what appeared to be the legs of an enormous ARC machine.
What has been confirmed
The centrepiece is a new map. According to Embark’s development update, it is a frozen settlement beneath towering mountains at the edge of the Rust Belt, once home to villages, factories, research facilities and an observatory.
The studio says the map was built for greater verticality, with threats both above and below ground.
A new ARC Operation is aimed at experienced Raiders. Embark says it is built around dynamic encounters and co-operation, and calls it one of the most intense experiences the game has offered.
New ARC enemies range from a small machine to the large one glimpsed in the teaser.
Progression changes
The Raider Den expands into a new space, the Outpost, which players can decorate and use to research the world.
The Skill Tree is being adjusted to give players more control over their build. Raider Decks are being reworked to be more rewarding.
New weapons, weapon personalisation, gadgets and cosmetics are also listed, along with ongoing work on matchmaking, anti-cheat and stability.
A slower cadence
Frozen Trail is the first release under the model Embark announced in May, replacing monthly content drops with fewer, larger updates.
The future of Expeditions remains open. Executive producer Aleksander Grøndal has said the team is still deciding next steps for the system, and that removing it entirely is an option.
ARC Raiders is available on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Source: ARC Raiders / Embark Studios, games.gg, Playfront