Embark Studios has announced the release date for a major update to ARC Raiders: the winter-themed Cold Snap. The studio posted a short teaser on its account on X indicating that the "cold front" will reach the game on December 16, and the announcement was accompanied by an image showing a fallen raider lying in the snow.
The studio's roadmap, published at the end of October, outlines the key additions coming with the Cold Snap update. The most notable mechanical change is a new weather condition — snowfall — which is expected to affect player visibility and movement across missions, altering tactical considerations and traversal.
Cold Snap will also introduce a limited-time event called Flickering Flames. That event will bring a set of additional objectives for players to complete, along with new rewards tied to the event's progression. Developers have said the update will include a new cosmetic set for raiders, expanding customization options for player characters.
Another significant feature highlighted for Cold Snap is the opening of a window for the game's first Expedition. This mode is described as the first event that allows players to voluntarily drop a character, introducing a new risk-reward dynamic to longer-form content and resource management.
Embark Studios has not yet shared further specifics about Cold Snap prior to the December 16 launch, nor have they released a broader roadmap for plans in the coming year. Fans will have to wait for closer to the release for patch notes and detailed descriptions of how the new mechanics will work in practice.
Separately, earlier research into player behavior placed the ARC Raiders community above the Dota 2 community in measured levels of toxicity, a finding that drew attention to the game's social dynamics as it continues to develop and grow.