ARC Raiders Frozen Trail is live: what changed from the preview

This article began as an August preview and was updated on launch day. Embark's live announcement and 2.0 patch notes say Frozen Trail launched on 8 October 2026. The article separates what was previewed in September from what the launch notes now confirm. Check your client and later official notes for your platform's current build.

What shipped in Frozen Trail#

The August announcement outlined the direction. The September preview supplied names and systems that were unknown when this article was first published. Embark's 2.0 notes now list the released features.

The new map is Pendola Pass, an icy settlement and Exodus transport hub. Embark describes an observatory and buried train depot, a fallen Emperor, and flash freezes. Its first look names the Frigate as a large ARC vessel and a high-level challenge, with Raiders able to board it and confront new ARC inside.

Three named enemies are in the launch notes: the aggressive Bully, ambushing Skulker, and stationary three-part Hydra on the Frigate. The Outpost adds a personal space and Research Bench, unlocked by completing its project. Embark says the fully upgraded workstation can unlock a fifth quality tier for 15 weapons, with branching upgrades. The Stiletto battle rifle and Bantam revolver are the named new guns.

The launch list also includes a Grappling Hook, Tether Launcher, Yank Grenade, cameras, instruments, the Reward Pass system and a reworked Skill Tree. The 2.0 notes say the new Frozen Trail Pass has 60 levels across Free and Premium tracks. Cred was removed and replaced by Reward Points, which go to the one pass you have active. Existing Raider Decks moved into a Legacy Pass; previously unlocked rewards are preserved. Read the live Skill Tree notes before changing allocations, because node choices and branch layouts changed.

What the launch notes add#

The 2.0 highlights add a Redirection map condition alongside the Frigate, 22 new quests, and a Research Bench in the Outpost. The Pendola Pass section also says Embark is testing a Dynamic Loot Zone system there: the value of a zone can vary from raid to raid, while its loot type remains the same. That limits the usefulness of any fixed route that assumes the same value every run.

Confirm that your client has updated, then check which Outpost project, Reward Pass and Skill Tree choices are available to your account. These are launch-note facts, not independent gameplay testing.

Embark's free-play announcement also says new players can reach Pendola Pass immediately when grouped with someone who has already unlocked it. That is more useful to a returning group than a speculative build recommendation based on the August teaser.

What this means for preparation#

Treat a named feature as a reason to learn its mechanics, not as proof of a best loadout. The Frigate's close quarters and new enemies suggest different risks from an ordinary loot run, but the patch notes alone do not rank weapons or routes. Begin with a kit you can afford to lose while you learn the new space.

For current item values and recipes, see Raiderism, then verify against the live game. The August advice to hold materials for an unknown update has expired; use released rules rather than a pre-release bet.

The honest summary#

Embark has confirmed launch in its 8 October announcement and 2.0 notes. The map, Frigate, named enemies, Outpost, progression systems, weapons and gadgets are listed there. Exact behavior beyond those notes still belongs to the current game build and any later official corrections.