Cold Snap Update Overhauls ARC Raiders With Frostbite, Events, and Gear

ARC Raiders Cold Snap Update arrives on December 16, and Embark Studios outlined everything players should expect from the winter-themed overhaul.

Embark Studios Confirms Extreme Cold And New Rewards For Cold Snap Update

The update brings a full seasonal shift to Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, Spaceport, and The Blue Gate, transforming each zone with heavy snow, frozen lakes, and low-visibility storms. Cold weather adds real danger, since frostbite begins to drain your health if you stay exposed for too long. Players need to adjust their loadouts, carry more healing items, and keep an eye out for shelter as they explore.

Cold Snap also launches the Flickering Flames event, which offers 25 reward tiers earned by collecting Merits from XP. The track includes gear upgrades, cosmetics, and Raider Tokens, but players must clear five rounds to fully activate event progression. Alongside it comes the Candleberry Banquet project, a community-driven activity where players gather Candleberries and special items to unlock scenes and rewards that also contribute to Flickering Flames’ progress.

A major gameplay addition drops on December 26 when the Goalie Raider deck becomes part of the base game. This themed deck adds new feats, items, cosmetics, Raider Tokens, and a hockey-inspired outfit and tool.

Embark is also introducing the Expedition Project Raider Reset, a system that lets players optionally reset their progression for exclusive buffs and long-term advantages. Not everyone likes the idea of new reward structures, but the studio says the system aims to offer replay value and fresh incentives.

Cold Snap remains active until January 13, 2026. While the studio didn’t confirm the exact Cold Snap launch timing, the update is expected to go live at around 4:30 AM EST, matching previous rollout patterns.

Via IGN