Arc Raiders Frozen Trail: Everything in the October 8 Update

Pack your warmest gear, Raiders. Arc Raiders gets its biggest update yet on October 8, 2026, when Frozen Trail drops a whole new snowy map, fresh ARC machines to fight and, finally, a grappling hook. It is a free update for everyone who owns the game on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X and S and GeForce NOW, and it doubles as a first-anniversary party for Embark Studios' extraction shooter.

• Release: October 8, 2026, free for owners on PC (Steam and Epic), PS5, Xbox Series X and S and GeForce NOW.
• New map: Pendola Pass, a snowy mountain region with an old Italian village and a fallen giant ARC called the Emperor.
• New gear: the Stiletto battle rifle, the Bantam revolver, a Grappling Hook and a Tether Launcher.
• PvE test: from October 13 to 20, players can choose PvE-only matchmaking.

What Is New in Arc Raiders Frozen Trail?

The star of the update is Pendola Pass, which sits beyond the northern mountains of the Rust Belt. Inven Global describes it as a former transport hub for the Exodus Project, mixing open snowfields, narrow passages and steep vertical climbs. Weather is part of the challenge too: sudden Flash Freeze cold snaps push you toward shelter, and the map's huge fallen Emperor machine is there to explore.

There is also the Frigate, a patrol vessel you can board, plus three new ARC enemies to learn: the Bully, the Skulker and the Hydra. Think of it as the extraction-shooter equivalent of a new raid wing, with plenty to discover.

Which New Weapons and Gadgets Are Coming?

Two new guns join the arsenal, the Stiletto battle rifle and the Bantam revolver. The real game-changer is mobility. The Grappling Hook and Tether Launcher should open up Pendola Pass's cliffs in ways Spider-Man would approve of, and a new in-game camera adds a photo mode for capturing those clutch extractions.

How Does Progression Change in Frozen Trail?

Embark is reworking progression alongside the new content:

• A customizable Outpost gives you a personal base, with a Research Station that supports weapon modification.
• Amplified weapon upgrades add extra properties to your favorite guns.
• A Rewards Pass replaces the previous Raider Decks, according to KitGuru.
• The skill tree gets a revamp, and new musical instruments arrive for your downtime.

Can You Play Arc Raiders Without PvP?

Yes, for a week at least. Inven Global reports a temporary PvE matchmaking test from October 13 to 20, letting squads skip player encounters and focus on fighting ARCs, exploring and co-op. If you have always liked the world but not the pressure of other Raiders, that is the perfect time to jump in.

KitGuru calls Frozen Trail the first evidence of the new development pipeline Embark announced in May. If the extraction genre is your thing, we also enjoyed the Mistfall Hunter launch on Game Pass. Catch every big update in our gaming coverage.

Sources: PC Gamer hands-on — October 7, 2026; Inven Global — September 28, 2026; KitGuru — September 24, 2026; Inven Global reveal — September 23, 2026.