Arc Raiders' biggest update brings faster level-up, a new map, and more

It's time for Arc Raiders players to rise up and update their games, as the biggest patch since launch is officially live. Frozen Trail adds an array of features and improvements to Arc Raiders that are bound to draw veterans, returning players, and curious gamers to the extraction shooter.

Arc Raiders was among the most played games in 2025, causing a surge in popularity for extraction shooters. However, player numbers decreased over time. With the launch of the Frozen Trail update on Oct. 8, Arc Raiders saw an increase in player numbers, and it is expected to keep growing over the weekend, especially since the game will be free-to-play until Monday, Oct. 12 at 4 a.m. ET.

Several features stand out in the Frozen Trail update, including Pendola Pass, a new map set in an icy environment. It brings arduous challenges as players face unprecedented threats and tougher enemies. Thankfully, they'll have new weapons to fight them with, such as the Bantam and the Stiletto. If these aren't for you, you can now modify and enhance your arsenal, turning your favorites into amplified weapons.

But this update isn't all about fighting and grinding; a few features let players sit back and relax. There are two fun gadgets that players will surely enjoy: the grappling hook and the camera. While one is used to navigating through the environment, the other is meant to capture it through beautiful screenshots. Additionally, players will be able to design their own outpost with hundreds of furniture pieces, which can be obtained by looting and making upgrades.

Arc Riders Frozen Trail patch notes

Since this is such a huge update, the patch notes are particularly long. Here are the most important features:

• New Map - Pendola Pass

• New Map Conditions - Frigate & Redirection

• New Enemies - Bully, Skulker, Hydra

• New Weapons - Bantam & Stiletto

• Amplified Weapons

• Revamped Skill Tree

• New Items - Grappling Hook, Basic & Advanced Cameras, Tether Launcher, Yank Grenade, Mountaineer’s Detector, Banjo & Harmonica

• The Outpost, including a new Research Bench

• Lootable “Design” items that unlock craftable Outpost furniture

• Quest System improvements, 22 new quests added

• New Reward Pass system

• Weapon Stencils

• Updated default gamepad mapping

• Reworked Map Selection screen, including visual and usability improvements

• Collector DLC is available now

• Max Stash Size increased by 2 new levels (328 Max without Expedition bonuses)

Among the minor changes, a few stood out to fans. Though it might return in the future, Solo vs. Squads is no longer available in Arc Raiders, as Embark Studios contemplates whether it is worth keeping as a matchmaking option. Furthermore, players can upgrade stash size two extra times, which means they can have a maximum of 328 slots without additional bonuses. It is finally possible to open the map while downed. Lastly, completing quests and milestones now grants XP, which will help players level up faster in Arc Raiders.

Speaking of making progress, the Legacy Pass has become a thing of the past, and players will now have to earn Reward Points instead and progress in the Frozen Trail Pass, which includes free and premium rewards. If you're looking for more goodies in Arc Raiders, Embark Studios is hosting a Twitch Drop event to commemorate the launch of the Frozen Trail update. From Oct. 8 until Nov. 4, players can watch streamers play Arc Raiders for 60 and 120 minutes to get the Oxygen Respirator and Mailbox backpack attachments, respectively.