Embark Studios launched Frozen Trail for ARC Raiders on October 8, 2026. The update adds Pendola Pass and deeper progression, while a full-game free weekend runs alongside 50% discounts on the base game and Deluxe editions.
At 09:00 UTC on October 8, 2026, players received access to the full version of ARC Raiders rather than a limited demo. Frozen Trail 2.0 launched with Pendola Pass, new enemies and expanded player spaces. Weapon progression now moves beyond the previous cap.
The Free Play Weekend runs through October 12 at 08:00 UTC. Steam and PlayStation 5 are included. Xbox Series X|S is included too, and the base game and Deluxe editions are available at 50% off.
Pendola Pass
The update's centrepiece is Pendola Pass, a remote mountain region on the northern edge of the Rust Belt. Its sharper vertical routes and denser interiors create more opportunities for ambushes. A fallen Emperor unit stands among the main landmarks, while other locations support careful infiltration or direct firefights.
IGN's coverage of the official Frozen Trail launch trailer confirmed the expedition's northern direction. The trailer also showed new regions and new types of ARC, giving the expansion a larger footprint than a routine map drop.
New players can reach Pendola Pass immediately by joining a group led by someone who has already unlocked the map. That removes one barrier during the free period because every squad member does not need to complete the same unlock path first.
Pendola Pass introduces Redirection, a minor map condition exclusive to the region. Squads can use it to draw Harvester Payloads away from the Collector and toward their own position. The change gives teams another way to shape the final extraction fight instead of reacting to a route that has already formed.
The enemy roster is expanding with the map. Bully pressures Raiders at close range, while Skulker puts more weight on positioning and flanking. Hydra hits exposed squads with heavy damage. ARC Frigate adds a large airborne threat that changes patrol patterns above Pendola Pass.
Those threats force different movement choices. Height matters more on the new map, while enclosed spaces make loadout decisions harder to ignore.
New Raider Systems
Frozen Trail also gives Raiders a reason to spend more time between expeditions. Outposts can now be established away from Speranza and developed as personal hubs. Players can upgrade workbenches and crafting facilities, then add decoration options to the space.
Progression moves beyond the previous weapon cap through a Research Station and its Weapon Amplification system. The update adds special mechanics and new visual variants for weapons that continue past the earlier limit. GamingBible reported that these systems, alongside the revised skill tree, target players who had already reached the former ceiling.
Weapon Stencils add another layer of customisation. The Grappling Hook expands movement options, while the first-person Camera provides a dedicated way to capture the world.
The quest structure now centres on larger objectives with optional bonus goals that grant additional XP. New nodes and adjustments to existing skills push the Raider skill tree toward more specialised playstyles. These changes reach into the long-term loop rather than dropping in as isolated content, although the source material provides no independent testing of their effect on balance.
The patch also changes existing equipment. According to the published Frozen Trail patch notes, Snap Hook's range fell to 18 metres and its durability cost doubled. Anvil received Blue status, changing how players may value movement and defensive tools while learning Pendola Pass's vertical routes.
The purchase terms are clear. The Free Play Weekend lasts through October 12, and both the base game and Deluxe editions carry a 50% discount. The Frozen Trail Reward Pass contains 60 levels split between Free and Premium Tracks.
The Premium Pass costs 1,150 Raider Tokens or comes through the Frozen Trail Collector Set bundle. Completing both tracks awards 1,350 Raider Tokens in total. The Premium Track adds 50 extra rewards, including exclusive cosmetics and another 1,150 Tokens.
Season Six Structure
Frozen Trail begins Trials Season 6. The new map systems sit inside a seasonal framework that also covers enemies and rewards, while the free track lets players progress without the premium unlock.
The paid track concentrates additional cosmetics and currency behind the 1,150-token entry point. That distinction matters because the update itself and the premium reward route are separate parts of the offering.
The timing is deliberate. The patch arrives less than a week before the planned PvE toggle beta test, scheduled to run from October 13 to 20.
During the test, Raiders can opt into matches without PvP and focus on co-operative play against ARC threats. Embark has not committed to making the mode permanent. The community is described as divided over whether it belongs in the game's long-term structure.
The PvE test gives players a temporary alternative rather than a confirmed new pillar. It will show how ARC Raiders works when environmental threats remain and other players are removed from the match, but its limited status does not establish permanent availability.
Beyond the Update
Embark is also expanding the wider ARC Raiders brand beyond the game. Chernin Entertainment is set to adapt ARC Raiders for television or film. The production company is also set to adapt Embark's competitive first-person shooter The Finals.
Chernin Entertainment is associated with Rise of the Planet of the Apes. It is also associated with Oblivion. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is another title linked to the company, as is The Greatest Showman. No release details for either adaptation have been provided.
The immediate changes are inside the game. The new map alters route planning, while four new threats change combat pressure. Outposts add a persistent personal space, and Weapon Amplification gives veteran players another progression target.
Official ARC Raiders release information confirms that the October free period offered the complete game. The access covered Steam and PlayStation 5. Xbox Series X|S was covered as well, rather than receiving a restricted trial.
Earlier update coverage from NextGenGamingBlog shows why the distinction between delivered patch content and future testing matters. A live-service announcement can place available features beside experiments whose final form remains unsettled.
Frozen Trail delivers the confirmed map, progression and seasonal content. The PvE toggle remains a test, and the new progression has not been independently measured in the source material.
The beta toggle is a temporary test rather than a guarantee that the feature will remain in the finished service. The October 13 to 20 window is the scheduled testing period.
