ARC Raiders ‘Cold Snap’ update is dropping tomorrow with permanent free content and optional stat wipes — Frostbite puts players on ice with new map conditions

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Since launching in October, ARC Raiders has been incredibly popular. It’s repeatedly broken its own player count records and recently earned Multiplayer Game of the Year.

Despite competition from highly anticipated games like Battlefield 6, Black Ops 7, Escape from Tarkov, Dune: Awakening, and Borderlands 4, ARC Raiders really stood out as the best – and it earned that recognition.

Keeping that in mind, Embark Studios has been working on a lot of new content, including the recent November event and the upcoming “Cold Snap” map condition!

What is the Cold Snap in ARC Raiders?

A new weather condition, Cold Snap, is coming to all open-world maps – Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, Spaceport, and The Blue Gate. During Cold Snap, players will have to contend with Frostbite, a new effect that gradually reduces their health.

Players will need to carefully use health items and find cover when the cold becomes dangerous. The environment will also be different on each map – lakes will be frozen, and snowfall will reduce how far you can see. Trying to stay hidden and snipe from a distance won’t be effective, as you’ll be exposed to the cold.

In comes the content: New events, Raider Deck, Projects, items, and more!

The Cold Snap update brings a lot of new items for players to earn! Starting December 26th, you can get the new, free Raider Deck called The Goalie, which includes a good amount of content and rewards. And like all free Raider Decks, The Goalie will be available to get forever.

A new in-game event called *Flickering Flames* is coming soon. Embark describes it as a test of survival skills during the Cold Snap, rewarding players for endurance and patience. By earning XP in rounds, players will automatically gain Merits, which can be used to unlock over 25 levels of rewards, including new gear, customization options, and Raider Tokens.

“To activate the event, Raiders must have played five rounds of the game.”

The event starts on December 16, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. Central European Time and runs until January 13, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. CET.

As part of the event, players will also get access to the Candleberries project.

A new event lets Raiders work together and experience a comforting warmth amidst a harsh winter. Players can earn prizes by finding special items on the surface and gathering Candleberries. The event has five parts, each unlocking a new display on a banquet table. As players complete these parts, they’ll receive cosmetic items, Raider Tokens, and Merits, which help them progress in the Flickering Flames event.

Raiders will get lots of new goodies, including cosmetic items and special tokens. Plus, there’s a fun new tool – a hockey stick, which is a personal favorite of mine!

Finally, players who want a fresh start will have the option to completely reset their character. After finishing the necessary setup, they can begin a new journey by completing an Expedition, which will wipe their current progress.

The upcoming wipe lets players start fresh with their characters, resetting their stats and inventory. Plus, it gives them a boost for their next Raider, including a bigger inventory, faster leveling, and other helpful benefits.

Another reason to keep playing my favorite multiplayer game

I’m incredibly excited about the new ARC Raiders update! I’ve been waiting years for this game, and it really exceeded my expectations – it’s one of the best I’ve ever played. It makes me so happy to see it doing well, and knowing the developers will continue to support it for years to come is fantastic.

I’ve always loved seeing snow in video games – it’s one of my favorite details. Growing up in a hockey state, I think I have a bit of a soft spot for it, more than most people probably!

It’s rare for games to realistically simulate interactions with the environment. For example, in games like GTA V, you can actually see footprints in the snow as you walk or drive. While not many games bother with these details, it’s incredibly immersive when they do, particularly when playing in third-person.

Dealing with weather will appeal to my love of challenging survival games. It won’t be about constantly needing food and water, but even mild winter conditions will add a lot to the game and make it even more immersive.

It would be awesome if they added a couple of Yeti ARCs to really challenge players. I’m picturing a large, two-legged ARC unit – something like a Rocketeer, but able to sprint through corridors as fast as a player while being incredibly durable. Maybe that’s a bit too scary, though?

I’m really excited to start playing the new game from Embark Studios, but I have to wait until tomorrow, which is going to be tough! I’ll probably spend the next 24 hours replaying Escape from Tarkov to pass the time.

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2025-12-15 17:10