ARC Raiders Frozen Trail: New Map, Free Weekend and PvE Test
ARC Raiders Frozen Trail update brings a new map, camera gadget and Pendola Pass on October 8. Free weekend Oct 8-12, then a PvE-only test Oct 13-20. Full details.
ARC Raiders Frozen Trail: New Map, Free Weekend and PvE Test
ARC Raiders, the extraction shooter from Embark Studios, is about to receive its biggest update yet. Frozen Trail releases on October 8, 2026 on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, and brings a new map, new ARC enemy variants, the camera gadget and a new season pass. To celebrate, Embark is making the full game free to play from October 8 to 12, followed by a PvE-only test from October 13 to 20.
What Is ARC Raiders?
ARC Raiders is a PvPvE extraction shooter developed by Embark Studios, the Stockholm studio founded by former DICE CEO Patrick Söderlund. Players drop into zones, fight ARC machines and rival squads, loot gear, and try to extract alive. It launched on October 30, 2025 and has sold more than 16 million copies.
The game is available on Steam, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Its PC version peaked at over 480,000 concurrent players at launch, and currently holds around 37,000 concurrent players on Steam.
Frozen Trail Update: What's New
Frozen Trail is the first of ARC Raiders' new bi-annual major content updates. Embark is shifting away from the monthly rolling drip it launched with toward two big content drops a year. Frozen Trail is the first, arriving October 8, 2026.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release date | October 8, 2026 |
| Platforms | PC (Steam), PS5, Xbox Series X|S |
| New map | Frozen Trail map (icy frontier zone) |
| New enemies | New ARC variants tied to the map |
| New gadget | Camera gadget for recording raids |
| Season pass | New Pendola Pass |
| Cadence | First of two major updates per year |
The New Map
Frozen Trail adds a brand-new map alongside its supporting content. Following the pattern of the earlier Riven Tides map, the new zone is expected to bring its own ARC factions, new verticality, and extraction routes that change the "which bag do I take" loot strategy. Embark has not yet shown the full map publicly beyond teaser footage.
The Camera Gadget
The camera gadget, arriving in October, lets Raiders film their raids. It is a social and flex tool for capturing runs and clips, though Embark warns anti-cheat updates accompany it, as an in-engine camera can double as a cheat-magnet for players seeking unfair information.
Pendola Pass
Frozen Trail introduces the Pendola Pass, the new seasonal battle pass, giving players a fresh progression track of cosmetics and rewards tied to the new season's activities.
Free Weekend: October 8–12
Embark announced on October 2, 2026 that ARC Raiders will be completely free to play from October 8 (9 AM UTC) to October 12 (8 AM UTC) on Steam, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The free trial gives players full access to the entire game, including the Frozen Trail update and its new map, with no content locked behind paywalls.
This marks ARC Raiders' first anniversary celebration period. Anyone curious about the extraction shooter can try the full game for four days without spending a cent.
PvE Test: October 13–20
Immediately after the free weekend ends, Embark runs an ambitious experiment. From October 13 to October 20, the game will disable player-versus-player damage entirely in a dedicated PvE test. During this window, all squads fight only the ARC machines and the environment, with no threat from other players.
This test could fundamentally change ARC Raiders if Embark decides to introduce a permanent PvE mode. The studio has not committed to a full PvE mode yet, but the test is the strongest signal so far that Embark is exploring the option seriously.
Content Cadence Change
Since launch (October 30, 2025), Embark shipped rolling updates roughly monthly — Riven Tides (the first map add), Forgotten Relics, Nomadic Envoys, and new traders. That cadence is now shifting to two major content drops per year.
The first of these is Frozen Trail (October 2026). Future major updates will ship at half-year intervals, with continuous balance patches and monthly events in between. The rhythm shift matters for players: rotations, meta weapons and the Trader rework cycles now consolidate into half-year arcs rather than trickling monthly.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Frozen Trail release?
October 8, 2026, on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Is ARC Raiders free to play?
ARC Raiders costs money to buy normally, but is completely free to play from October 8 to 12, 2026 across all platforms.
What does Frozen Trail add?
A new icy map, new ARC enemy variants, the camera gadget for recording raids, and the Pendola Pass seasonal battle pass.
What is the PvE test?
From October 13 to 20, Embark disables PvP damage entirely. All squads fight only ARC machines and the environment. If adopted permanently, it could add a full PvE mode to ARC Raiders.
How many players does ARC Raiders have?
ARC Raiders has sold over 16 million copies and peaked at 480,000 concurrent players on Steam at launch. Current concurrent player count on Steam is around 37,000.
Who makes ARC Raiders?
Embark Studios, a Stockholm-based studio founded by former DICE CEO Patrick Söderlund. The studio also developed The Finals.
Conclusion
Frozen Trail is a defining moment for ARC Raiders. A new map, the first bi-annual major update, a free weekend that gives everyone access for four days, and a PvE-only test that could reshape the game's future make October 2026 the most interesting month for the extraction shooter since its launch. If you have been curious about ARC Raiders, the free weekend window is the ideal time to drop in.
Published: October 4, 2026 | Updated: October 4, 2026
Sources: Embark Studios official announcement (arcraiders.com); Polygon (Oct 4, 2026); OpenCritic / DualShockers; instant-gaming news; mmokb.com; Eurogamer (PvE test coverage). Player counts from SteamDB. Dates and details are time-sensitive.
