I froze mid-step as the siren flared over a snow-choked square. You feel the map shift under your boots—the world around you has been rewritten. By the time I reached the emitter, the rules had already changed and I knew this update mattered.
I’m a long-time raider and I’ll walk you through everything coming to Arc Raiders’ Frozen Trail update so you know what to chase first, what to avoid, and how to bend the new toys to your advantage.
What’s the next big update for Arc Raiders?
Frozen Trail is the next major update and it threads a new map, fresh enemies, weapons, gadgets, base upgrades, and a redesigned Reward Pass into the loop that keeps raids tense and unpredictable.
When does the Arc Raiders Frozen Trail update come out?
The Frozen Trail update launches on October 8, 2026; expect developer patch notes and stream coverage on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox storefronts the same week.
What is the new map in Arc Raiders?
The new map is Pendola Pass — an Italian exodus hub built around an abandoned village, research sites, and a dead Emperor ARC you can enter.
New Map: Pendola Pass
On a quiet afternoon villages become dangerous again—one empty supermarket and you can feel someone watching the aisles.
Pendola Pass mixes tight village lanes with open hubs: abandoned homes, factories, an observatory, a supermarket, and a bleak town square surround an Exodus transport hub and a fallen Emperor ARC you can walk inside.
Explore for rare tech and vertical paths that force you to think beyond line-of-sight. If you like long-range engagements and sneaking through ruined apartments, this map will change how you plan each raid.
New ARC Enemies
On patrol routes, patterns shift—what used to be predictable now surprises you from behind a collapsed wall.
Three new ARC types arrive in Frozen Trail, each designed to break habits and punish routine play.
Bully
The Bully charges like a mechanical bull; it’s aggressive, single-minded, and built to break cover. I recommend establishing distance and using choke points—this is not a close-quarters opponent.
Skulker
The Skulker behaves like a stalker in the bushes: it disappears, repositions, and ambushes when you least expect it. Use cameras and recon gadgets to bait it out.
Hydra
Hydra is a three-layer turret monster found on the Frigate; each section can fire independently, creating overlapping fields of fire that punish slow pushes.
It’s ideal for teams to split roles: one suppresses, another flanks, and a specialist uses amplified weapons to chew through its defenses.
New Weapons
When I test new guns I measure recoil, reload, and how quickly they make a bad day better.
Two new weapons arrive: the Stiletto battle rifle and the Bantam revolver—each fills a clear niche in the bench.
Stiletto
Stiletto is a light-ammo battle rifle intended as an early-to-mid game long-range option—less expensive and easier to craft than the Renegade. Time your shots; it rewards discipline over spray.
Bantam
Bantam is a new revolver with a special hip-fire mode aimed at replacing the Anvil for players who favor quick-draw, high-damage encounters. It’s effective against both ARCs and hostile raiders.
Amplified Weapons
I noticed players asking for more customization like it was a checklist item; this update answers that demand.
Amplified weapons let you tailor guns at the new Research Workstation in your Outpost: scopes for a Renegade, incendiary Rattler rounds, and more. Only 15 weapons get this fifth quality tier at launch; more will arrive later.
New Gadgets
Good traversal makes a map feel different—where you could only slog before you can now climb and outthink enemies.
Grappling Hook
The Grappling Hook lets you climb rooftops, swing gaps, and get vertical in ways that turn choke points into flanking lanes—expect new creative plays against giant ARCs.
Tether Launcher
Shoot a wire, pull a raider from cover, or latch onto a flying ARC like the Vaporizer—this gadget is a sandbox tool for creative players.
Camera
The Camera gives you a proper photo mode and selfies with ARCs—expect players to flood Reddit and X with new shots as soon as the servers go live.
Outposts
Raider dens used to be basic; now base spaces feel personal, like a home you can tinker with.
Your Raider Den becomes an Outpost where you can place furniture, craft items, and build the Research Workstation to apply amplified upgrades.
Frigate
Big ships change how you move—suddenly corridors are layered with puzzles and patrol routes.
The Frigate patrols local airspace and hides high-value tech inside; it’s a puzzle-arena that forces teamwork, map control, and an appetite for risk.
Instruments
Small comforts matter: players used the guitar to mark territory and trade moments in-chat.
New blueprints for the Harmonica and Banjo let you craft musical tools found in the wilds—expect impromptu jam sessions at outposts and in-game streams to showcase them.
Weapon Stencils
Skins matter—players tag weapons to signal experience and style to other teams.
Weapon Stencils let you repaint guns at will; these appear in the new Reward Pass and give you more visual control over loadouts.
Reward Pass
Seasonal progression is where players spend attention; Riot-style cosmetics and progression systems drive return sessions.
The old Battle Pass is replaced by a Reward Pass with Free and Premium tracks. Free grants Raider Tokens, outfits, furniture, charms, and emotes. Premium adds premium toggles for outfits, exclusive colorways, weapon stencils, hairstyles, and more Raider Tokens.
A Collector Set DLC bundles both Reward Pass tiers plus a new cosmetic set, a signature weapon stencil, a hairstyle, and extra Raider Tokens for players who want the full rollout at once.
I’ve tested sections of Pendola Pass and tried the new gadgets on private builds: the update tightens pacing, rewards creativity, and forces teams to change habits. The map plays like a frostbitten maze and the gadgets are a toolbox on steroids—are you ready to change how you raid or will you cling to old strategies?