Frozen Trail in ARC Raiders: map, Frigate, and Amplified Weapons (Oct 8)

Embark Studios has published the preview for Frozen Trail, the update it calls the largest since launch for ARC Raiders. It arrives October 8, 2026 at no extra cost on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. Here is what changes in-game based on Content highlights from October 8.

If you do not own the game yet, the same October 8 start brings a free play weekend through October 12 (11:00 to 10:00 CEST): full access on Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation. That post has dates, platforms, and terms; here we focus on what Frozen Trail adds.

In one line: a snowy map to the north, new threats on the ground and inside a huge ship, an expandable Outpost on Topside, and endgame progression (Amplified Weapons, Skill Tree, and passes), plus weapons, gadgets, and cosmetics.

Map and cold in Pendola Pass

Celeste and Shani track the strange signal beyond the Rust Belt: Pendola Pass, an Italian town and old Exodus Project logistics hub under frozen mountains. An abandoned supermarket, empty square, observatory, and buried rail depot make for a vertical, tight map.

The map adds Flash Freeze: cold bursts that force you to shelter, sometimes in Avalanche Shelters with strong loot—but also the risk of running into other Raiders. Embark calls it the densest, most vertical space they have built.

Frigate and new machines

ARC answers with the Frigate, a huge patrol ship: interior routes, other Raiders, and the Hydra turret in close quarters. On Pendola Pass you also meet the Bully and Skulker, with very different behaviors (frontal pressure vs ambush).

Progression on Topside

The Outpost extends your Raider Den: a base between the Rust Belt and the ridge, with modules, decor, and a Research Workstation for mods and Amplified Weapons (a fifth quality tier on fifteen familiar guns). It pairs with a Skill Tree rework and the Legacy Pass, which merges old Raider Decks without wiping progress.

Weapons and gear

Swipe through the official assets: arsenal progression, new pieces, and mobility gadgets.

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  Amplified Weapons

  Fifth quality tier on fifteen meta guns—branches that change fire rate, optics, or incendiary ammo from the Outpost Research Workstation.

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  Stiletto

  Cheap battle rifle to craft early; an alternative to the Renegade if you want precision at range.

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  Bantam

  Hard-hitting revolver for ARC and Raiders; hip-fire for close duels.

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  Grappling Hook

  Climb walls, rappel, and cross gaps in Pendola Pass—key on the game’s most vertical map.

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  Tether Launcher

  Cable lines between points to anchor ARC or rivals; pairs with the Yank Grenade in the same update.

Also coming: a camera (shots to the Codex), Weapon Stencils, and a Reward Pass (Free Pass, Premium Pass, and optional Collector Set with Renzo cosmetics).

Other additions

Topside base, new ARC machines, and musical instruments.

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  Outpost

  Your Topside base: modules, decor, and research to prep runs north.

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  Bully

  New ground ARC: pushes your position and forces cover or retreats.

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  Skulker

  Stalks from the flank; lose sight and it strikes again.

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  Hydra

  Triple turret on the map and inside the Frigate; punishes squads that do not coordinate.

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  Harmonica

  One of the new instruments (alongside the banjo); more social than tactical, but adds flavor to the Den and Outpost.

What we still do not know

Embark promises more missions and general improvements on patch day but has not published balance numbers (damage, cold duration, exact Amplified Weapons requirements). If anything shifts in the day-one notes, check the official source that same day.

Newcomers during the free weekend can enter Pendola Pass in a squad with someone who already unlocked the map, even if they have not unlocked it themselves.