Hero image: ARC Raiders: Pendola Pass. Image: Embark Studios
Embark’s biggest update since launch went live last night with a new map, new ARC and a grappling hook. Anyone without the game can try all of it free until Monday evening.
Frozen Trail is live in ARC Raiders. Embark posted it at 8pm AEDT on Thursday and calls it the game’s biggest update since launch. If you have been waiting since the first look, the wait is over. If you never bought in, the free-play window runs until 7pm AEDT on Monday 12 October. That is 6pm in Brisbane and 4pm in Perth, and it gives access to the full game.
The new map is Pendola Pass, an icy Italian village that Embark calls “our most complex map to date”. Expect vertical terrain and a new Flash Freeze weather condition. Points of interest include a supermarket, an observatory and a buried train depot. The reason you are there is that an ARC Emperor has fallen, with rare technology inside for anyone who can get in.
Above the map, ARC have sent the Frigate, a huge airborne carrier you can board. Embark describes it as a “very high-risk, high-reward” encounter and won’t spoil the rest. The Hydra, a three-part turret, is found on board. Down on the ground, watch for the Bully, which charges your position, and the Skulker, which waits at the edge of your vision.
Your loadout gets new toys. The Stiletto is a light-ammo battle rifle for early game, and the Bantam is a heavy-ammo revolver with its own hip-fire. The Grappling Hook lets you climb, abseil and swing over gaps. The Tether Launcher and Yank Grenade pin or drag targets, ARC or Raider.
Late-game players should head to the new Outpost. Its Research Workstation unlocks Weapon Amplification, which is rolling out to 15 weapons first. The skill tree has been reworked, 22 new quests have been added and the maximum stash size has gone up by two levels.
Raider Decks are now Reward Passes. The Frozen Trail pass has 60 levels. The free track carries the new base outfits and up to 200 Raider Tokens. The premium track costs 1,150 Raider Tokens, pays up to 1,150 back and holds no gameplay items. On Steam in Australia, the Frozen Trail Collector Set is A$43.99, and it is the only way to get the Banjo blueprint.
The full patch notes have the complete list of fixes. Read them, then drop into Pendola Pass tonight while the free weekend lasts. We have also covered the PvP opt-out week.
Source: The ARC Raiders Team (Steam) – Frozen Trail, The ARC Raiders Team (Steam) – Frozen Trail 2.0 Update, The ARC Raiders Team (Steam) – Play ARC Raiders for free from Oct 8 to Oct 12, Steam – Frozen Trail Collector Set