ARC Raiders Frozen Trail: confirmed highlights for October 8

Frozen Trail arrives in ARC Raiders on October 8, 2026, and Embark has now revealed its main features. Raiders leave the Rust Belt for Pendola Pass, a snowbound map with a fallen Emperor you can enter. The update also brings the Frigate, three new ARC, a fifth weapon level, two new guns, a grappling hook and a Reward Pass that evolves Raider Decks. Here are the confirmed highlights, the extra details reported from Embark's press Q&A and what to do before launch.

Watch Embark’s Frozen Trail: First Look trailer →

Checked October 3, 2026. Frozen Trail is announced for October 8; it has not launched yet. Suggestions for your squad are editorial advice. Details reported from the press Q&A are labelled below.

Frozen Trail at a glance

Teamplay editorial summary, based on Embark’s content preview.

• • New map, Pendola Pass: an old Italian village and Exodus transport hub beyond the mountains, with a fallen Emperor at its heart.
• • New endgame, the Frigate: board one of ARC's largest ships and fight your way through it while other squads go after the same prize.
• • Three new ARC: the charging Bully, the ambushing Skulker and the Hydra, a three-part turret found on the Frigate.
• • Outpost: your own customizable base on the surface, with a Research Workstation for deeper weapon modding.
• • Amplified Weapons: a fifth quality level for 15 guns that can change how a weapon behaves.
• • New gear: the Stiletto battle rifle, the Bantam revolver, a Grappling Hook, a Tether Launcher, a Yank Grenade and a working camera.
• • Reward Pass: new free and premium tracks evolve the Raider Deck system, while existing progress moves into the free Legacy Pass. Unspent Cred expires on October 8.
• • Also: a Skill Tree rework, new questlines, a new Map Condition, Weapon Stencils, a harmonica and a banjo.

Going in with a squad? Teamplay is a free LFG (Looking For Group) platform where you can describe the run you want and find teammates. Decide whether your first evening is for scouting Pendola Pass, attempting the Frigate or testing the new gear.

Free play, October 8–12: bring a friend

Embark has announced full-game free play on Steam, Xbox and PlayStation, from October 8 at 09:00 UTC to October 12 at 08:00 UTC. It coincides with Frozen Trail. New players can access Pendola Pass immediately when teamed with someone who has already unlocked it.

For your invitation, distinguish a beginner-friendly introduction from a demanding Frigate attempt. A patient guide and a clear objective make it easier for a new friend to decide whether to join. Read Embark’s free-play announcement. The announced 09:00 UTC start applies to free play; it is not a separately confirmed patch deployment time.

Pendola Pass: a new map with a fallen Emperor

Pendola Pass and the fallen Emperor, shown in the Frozen Trail First Look. © Embark Studios. Source: Embark Studios.

Celeste and Shani have traced the strange signal ringing across Toledo to Pendola Pass, an old Italian village and Exodus transport hub beyond the peaks that surround the Rust Belt. Landmarks include a supermarket, a lifeless town square, an observatory and a buried train depot.

The reason to go is the fallen Emperor. Rare technology lies inside, and your job is to reach it and find a way in. It won't be easy: ARC are scrambling around the crash site, and Embark says brutal flash freezes sweep through the valley. TheSixthAxis' report from Embark's press Q&A adds that a freeze forces Raiders to seek shelter indoors.

Weather, shelter and extraction

Embark’s September 23 press announcement adds three details:

• • Flash Freeze: sudden cold can sweep across Pendola Pass during a raid. Reach cover before it starts hurting you.
• • Avalanche Shelters: open as a freeze approaches. They offer protection and loot, which can also attract rival Raiders.
• • Ballistic Gondola: a new extraction you call in and board quickly. It has room for three Raiders.

For a scouting squad, agree on shelter and extraction before chasing loot. Source: Embark’s Frozen Trail press announcement.

Redirection: bring the payload to you

Redirection is a new minor Map Condition exclusive to Pendola Pass. A Transmitter diverts Harvester Payloads away from the Collector toward you, attracting ARC and other Raiders. Clear and hold the area before collecting the loot. Give your squad time to defend it.

The Frigate: an endgame challenge in the sky

ARC have answered the fallen Emperor by sending one of their largest vessels to patrol the area. Raiders call it the Frigate. Once you find a way on board, you navigate its internal passageways, unlock paths and fight ARC both new and old, hundreds of feet in the air.

Other Raiders have their eyes on the prize, and you'll be forced to collaborate or cut through them in order to pass.

Embark Studios, Frozen Trail First Look

Embark aims the Frigate at highly skilled Raiders. In a press Q&A reported by TheSixthAxis, the studio described it as a world event that can also show up on other maps, where the goal is to sabotage the ship from the inside. Check the final release notes and the in-game entry requirements before committing your squad’s equipment.

Three new ARC: Bully, Skulker and Hydra

Teamplay editorial briefing. See the official images and descriptions.

Bully

Bully, the charging ARC introduced in Frozen Trail. © Embark Studios. Source: Embark Studios.

An aggressive, machine-learned ARC that gallops straight at your position, cedes no ground and fights with a host of lethal attacks. How to handle it: use cover, time your response and hit your shots. It's quick on its feet.

Skulker

Skulker, the ambush threat introduced in Frozen Trail. © Embark Studios. Source: Embark Studios.

The opposite of the Bully. It lies in wait at the edge of your vision, strikes with a flurry of blows and slips out of sight the moment you're distracted. How to handle it: keep track of where it went. In a squad, call it out so someone keeps eyes on it.

Hydra

Hydra, the three-part turret found aboard the Frigate. © Embark Studios. Source: Embark Studios.

A turret found on the Frigate. It doesn't walk anywhere, but it's split into three stacked, autonomous sections with their own weapons, so it can take on a whole squad. How to handle it: split its attention, get to cover fast and attack when an opening appears.

Embark’s press announcement also says the Hydra can respawn. According to the press Q&A, the three new ARC are mostly limited to Pendola Pass for now.

Outpost: your first base on the surface

The Outpost preview: a home on the surface and a place to develop your arsenal. © Embark Studios. Source: Embark Studios.

Celeste offers Raiders heading to Pendola Pass a home away from home: the Outpost, set between the Rust Belt and the mountains. Embark calls it the first step to reclaiming the surface. You customize it with modules and furniture and build a Research Workstation that unlocks higher levels of weapon customization and modding.

At launch the Outpost works much like Speranza, through menus rather than as a place you walk around, according to the press Q&A. Embark says it's the start of a feature it wants to grow into a deeply personal space.

Amplified Weapons: a fifth level for 15 guns

Teamplay editorial summary. Source: Embark Studios.

This is the big late-game change. Fully upgrade the Research Workstation in your Outpost and you can take 15 guns to a fifth quality level. Instead of a flat stat boost, it opens a branching path of abilities that can change how a weapon behaves. Embark's examples: a fully automatic Burletta, a Renegade with a scope, and a Rattler with incendiary bullets and a 64-round magazine.

The goal is to give experienced Raiders a reason to use more than one favorite gun. More weapons will get the upgrade later.

New guns: Stiletto and Bantam

See Embark’s official images of Stiletto and Bantam in the content preview.

• • Stiletto: a light-ammo battle rifle, a cheap and easy early-game alternative to the Renegade. It can fire fast, but mashing the trigger costs accuracy.
• • Bantam: a snub-nosed revolver on heavy ammo that works against both ARC and Raiders, with a unique hip-fire.

Gadgets: grappling hook, tethers and a camera

See Embark’s official images of the Grappling Hook and Tether Launcher in the content preview.

• • Grappling Hook: climb to hard-to-reach spots, abseil off buildings and swing across large gaps. According to TheSixthAxis' report from Embark's press Q&A, stamina is its main limit.
• • Tether Launcher: connects two points with a wire. Root an enemy in place, or attach a Raider to an ARC and watch it drag them away.
• • Yank Grenade: when it explodes, it violently pulls a nearby target. Good for bringing flying ARC down or pulling Raiders out of cover.
• • Camera: zoom, aperture, manual and automatic focus, and a selfie mode with emotes. Photos are saved to your Codex.

See Embark’s official images of the camera in the content preview.

For style: Weapon Stencils change appearance without changing stats. Once learned and consumed, they remain available for compatible weapons. A Raider who beats you can still take your personalized gun. Two new instruments arrive too: the Harmonica and the Banjo, whose blueprint comes with the Collector Set DLC.

Reward Pass evolves Raider Decks

Frozen Trail Premium outfit variations. These are cosmetics, not combat upgrades. © Embark Studios. Source: Embark Studios.

Raider Decks evolve into the Reward Pass. You progress it by completing Feats, and it's the way to try many of the new items from the update. Your existing Raider Deck progress isn't lost.

• • Frozen Trail Free: the 60-level pass includes base outfits, cosmetics, weapons, gadgets, items and up to 200 Raider Tokens.
• • Frozen Trail Premium: costs 1,150 Raider Tokens. It adds outfit variations, legendary weapon stencils, hairstyles and up to 1,150 tokens, but no gameplay-benefiting weapons or gadgets.
• • Legacy: a free pass combines old Raider Deck cosmetics and tokens. Previously unlocked rewards stay unlocked; you can progress toward the remaining rewards.
• • Collector Set DLC: includes Premium access, the Renzo cosmetic set, Dragon’s Breath stencil, Bob hairstyle, 2,400 Raider Tokens, a Retro Sofa and the exclusive Banjo blueprint.

The two Frozen Trail tracks together offer up to 1,350 Raider Tokens. Completing Premium can earn back its token cost. These details are now confirmed in Embark’s September 28 Reward Pass explanation, rather than relying only on the earlier press Q&A.

Also coming on October 8

• • A Skill Tree rework with new and improved skills.
• • New questlines: optional objectives can award bonus XP.
• • Trials Season 6: new challenges begin with Frozen Trail.
• • Redirection: the new minor Map Condition on Pendola Pass, explained above.
• • Ongoing work on matchmaking, anti-cheat, stability and quality of life, as Embark promised in August.

Fair play: what Embark has confirmed

In its September 30 anti-cheat update, Embark says detected cheat use now receives a permanent ban and explains stronger license restrictions. It also reports new matchmaking measures separating known groups who coordinate to enter the same solo lobby.

Finding teammates for a normal squad is a different scenario. Use the intended squad queue; do not coordinate separate solo queues to gain an unfair advantage. This statement describes ongoing measures, not a promise that every cheat will disappear on October 8.

A separate PvE test follows on October 13–20

The announced PvE matchmaking toggle is a temporary beta test from October 13 to 20, not a permanent mode arriving with the October 8 update. Players can choose between the classic PvPvE experience and PvE sessions with no player-to-player damage. Solos, Duos and Trios can share a PvE session.

The test excludes Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate and the Frigate. Loot values also differ. Plan a Frigate evening around the classic experience; do not invite friends on the assumption that the new endgame event will be available in the PvE test. Read the test rules and limitations.

Before October 8: your checklist

Embark’s September 29 store update confirms there will be no separate Tuesday update on October 6, ahead of Frozen Trail on Thursday, October 8.

Dates checked October 3. Free-play times are UTC; the PvE announcement specifies dates without an exact start time.

• • Spend your remaining Cred: use it with Shani or on unclaimed Raider Deck rewards before October 8.
• • Claim the community Rubber Ducks: check your in-game inbox; the message stops being sent after October 8.
• • Choose a first-night goal: agree whether you are scouting, attempting the Frigate or testing equipment.
• • Invite new players during free play: state the platform, language, time zone and how much guidance your group is happy to offer.

Unspent Cred expires on October 8

Spend it with Shani or on remaining Raider Deck rewards before the update. Rewards you've already claimed stay with you.

The Expedition 5 departure sign-up closed on September 29 at 08:00 UTC; it is no longer an upcoming preparation step. The September 25 developer Q&A has also already taken place.

Plan your first night in Pendola Pass

Launch night on a new map goes better with a squad that wants the same thing. Pick the run you're after:

• • Scouting run: learn Pendola Pass, find shelter from flash freezes and look for the way into the Emperor.
• • Frigate attempt: built for skilled Raiders and contested by other squads, so bring people who talk to each other.
• • Gear test: try the Grappling Hook, the tethers and the new guns before you trust them in a serious raid.

Find Raiders who want the same first run

A new map gives everyone a reason to return, but not everyone wants the same pace. On Teamplay, describe the run you want, then choose who you would like to play with.

• • Your goal: scouting, a Frigate attempt, gear testing or a beginner-friendly introduction.
• • Your setup: platform, region, preferred language and voice-chat preference.
• • Your session: date, time zone, available time and whether returning or new players are welcome.

Open the form, choose ARC Raiders, and publish your teammate request. The link opens the form; it does not create a request or guarantee a match.

Find ARC Raiders teammates →

Last fact-checked October 3, 2026, including Embark’s free-play, Reward Pass, PvE test and anti-cheat announcements, plus the detailed Frozen Trail press release. Recheck the final patch notes at launch for numerical balance changes and any revised timings.

Sources

Embark Studios
Frozen Trail First Look · Sep 23, 2026
Frozen Trail press announcement · Sep 23, 2026
Frozen Trail First Look trailer · Sep 23, 2026
Free play: October 8–12 · Oct 2, 2026
Anti-cheat update · Sep 30, 2026
Store Update 1.48.0 · Sep 29, 2026
Reward Passes explained · Sep 28, 2026
PvE matchmaking test · Sep 24, 2026
Store Update 1.47.0 · Sep 22, 2026
Live Update 1.45.0 · Sep 8, 2026
Frozen Trail announcement · Aug 12, 2026

TheSixthAxis
Frozen Trail press Q&A report · Sep 23, 2026