ARC Raiders: Frozen Trail Release Date, New Map, Leaks & More

The ARC Raiders Frozen Trail update launches on October 8, 2026, and Embark is calling it the biggest update since launch. Players are getting the largest map yet, a huge new ARC Operation, Outposts, deeper progression, new enemies, weapons, gadgets, and more.

There are also several major leaks pointing to a boardable Frigate, an ARC Operation called Dead Reckoning, new weapons, trading, clans, and other future systems. This guide separates officially confirmed Frozen Trail content from leaks and will be updated as new information arrives before launch.

• 01 Release Date ›
• 03 New ARC Operation ›
• 05 Outposts & Progression ›
• 07 New ARC Enemies ›
• 09 How to Prepare ›
• 02 Frozen Trail Map ›
• 04 Dead Reckoning & Frigate ›
• 06 Weapons & Personalization ›
• 08 Other Frozen Trail Leaks ›
• 10 Everything Confirmed ›

ARC Raiders Frozen Trail Update Quick Overview

Here is the current status of the biggest features connected to the October update. Remember that datamined content can be changed, delayed, renamed, or removed before release.

When Does the ARC Raiders Frozen Trail Update Release?

Frozen Trail releases on October 8, 2026. Embark confirmed the date on August 12 after previously announcing that its next major update would arrive sometime in October.

An exact launch time, server downtime, download size, and preload details have not been announced yet. Embark has also confirmed that a much larger Frozen Trail reveal is coming in September, so many of the remaining gaps should be filled before release.

Frozen Trail is important because ARC Raiders has moved away from trying to deliver a major content update every month. Embark now plans to release larger major updates around twice per year while continuing smaller live updates, events, balance changes, and fixes between them.

Frozen Trail Is the Largest ARC Raiders Map Yet

The new Frozen Trail location is the centerpiece of the October update. Embark describes it as the largest map currently in ARC Raiders and says it has been built with more verticality, exploration, and opportunities for discovery.

Shani will send Raiders beyond the mountains after an unusual signal appears from an unexplored area. What they find is a frozen settlement at the edge of the Rust Belt.

At Gamescom, Executive Producer Aleksander Grøndal also described Frozen Trail as visually different from the maps players already know and positioned farther beyond the familiar Rust Belt areas. Embark appears to want the new region to feel like a genuine step into unexplored territory rather than another variation of an existing location.

Frozen Trail Setting

Embark has officially mentioned several types of locations that existed in the area before it was abandoned:

• Villages
• Factories
• Research facilities
• An observatory

The map sits beneath large mountains and looks much more layered than a simple open snowfield. Embark says Raiders will face threats both above and below ground, suggesting that underground areas could play a much larger role than on existing maps.

Leaked Frozen Trail Locations

Frozen Trail actually appeared in datamined files months before Embark officially announced the map. The same files contained eight named locations:

• Central Station
• Factory
• Loading Platform
• Observatory
• Radio Tower
• Railyard
• Supermarket
• Village

Several of those names now line up with Embark's official description, especially the Factory, Observatory, and Village. This is one reason the other information from the same datamine is being taken more seriously than a normal anonymous leak.

A newer datamine reported by Noclip claims the finished map could contain around 25 named locations and five extraction points. Those numbers have not been confirmed by Embark, so they may still change before launch.

Frozen Trail Adds a New High-Level ARC Operation

Frozen Trail will introduce what Embark calls an enormous new ARC Operation. It is specifically designed for experienced Raiders looking for a harder challenge.

Embark says the activity is built around meaningful decisions, dynamic encounters, cooperation, risk, combat, teamwork, and survival. The studio also says it should be one of the most intense experiences ARC Raiders has offered so far.

That description becomes particularly interesting when compared with a major datamine from April.

Dead Reckoning and the Frigate Leak Explained

The most important Frozen Trail leak is an ARC Operation called Dead Reckoning. The leaked files connect the operation to a giant flying ARC named the Frigate.

Embark has not officially confirmed either name. However, the structure found in the files looks much more detailed than a simple unused text string.

What Is Dead Reckoning?

The April datamine lists "ARC OPERATION: Dead Reckoning" together with the Frigate. The machine appears to be based on the strange flying UFO-like ARC seen during an earlier Hurricane event.

The files indicate that the Frigate would follow a route around the map rather than staying in one location.

The Frigate Can Apparently Be Boarded

The leaked game data contains several Frigate-specific states and commands, including references to:

• Spawning the Frigate
• A Frigate Round Manager
• Moving along a set route
• Anchoring at specific points
• Accelerating and decelerating
• Different hull states
• A BOARDED state
• An EXFIL state
• A command for boarding the Frigate

This makes it look like Raiders could physically board the moving ARC and complete some type of encounter before extracting. Reddit players have described the concept as a "raid within a raid", although that is community interpretation rather than confirmed terminology.

A newer datamine reported in July claims the Frigate could be around 341 meters long with cargo areas, engines, and interactive sections. That exact size remains unconfirmed.

How Credible Is the Dead Reckoning Leak?

The Dead Reckoning leak has gained credibility because other information from the same general datamining period has since become official.

• Frozen Trail was leaked before Embark announced it
• Factory, Village, and Observatory appeared in leaked Frozen Trail data
• An Outpost system was datamined before Embark confirmed Outposts
• A camera feature appeared in newer datamining before Embark confirmed cameras for October

This does not prove that Dead Reckoning will launch exactly as described. Features found in game files can be renamed, reworked, delayed, or removed.

Still, Embark has now confirmed a huge high-level ARC Operation while the datamine already contains a detailed high-level ARC Operation involving a boardable Frigate. Dead Reckoning is currently one of the strongest unconfirmed Frozen Trail leaks.

New ARC Enemies Are Coming With Frozen Trail

New ARC threats are officially confirmed for October. Embark says they range from a small and agile problem-maker to an enormous machine capable of stopping Raiders in their tracks.

The studio has not revealed their final names or full abilities yet.

Leaked Kebab and Teragon ARC

A newer Silarious datamine reported by Noclip contains ARC enemies using the development names Kebab and Teragon.

Kebab reportedly has several versions:

• Gatling variant
• Missile variant
• Laser variant

The files reportedly connect these machines to the Frigate. It is not clear whether Kebab and Teragon are final names, internal development names, or enemies that will definitely ship with Frozen Trail.

The New ARC Raiders Outpost System

Outposts are one of the biggest officially confirmed Frozen Trail features. Your Raider Den is not disappearing, but Embark wants progression to move beyond simply hiding underground.

Frozen Trail gives your Raider the opportunity to inhabit a new personal space called an Outpost. It represents the first steps toward reclaiming the surface from ARC.

What Can You Do With Your Outpost?

Embark has currently confirmed that players will be able to:

• Inhabit their own Outpost
• Decorate the Outpost
• Research new elements of the world
• Use it as part of deeper long-term progression
• Take the first steps toward reclaiming the surface

A July datamine suggested that furniture and decorations could be placed around the Outpost, with some decorations possibly connected to completed Projects. Embark has not yet explained exactly how upgrading, decorating, or researching will work.

New Long-Term Progression, Skill Tree Changes and Raider Decks

Embark has openly acknowledged that many long-term players have already maxed their Raider Den and reached the Skill Point ceiling. Frozen Trail is designed to give those players new goals rather than simply adding another map to farm.

The update will introduce deeper progression systems that let players shape their Raider over a longer period of time.

At Gamescom, Grøndal explained that Embark does not really view ARC Raiders as having a traditional endgame with a clear endpoint. Instead, the longer-term goal is to create gameplay loops that feed back into one another, giving players reasons to keep moving between different activities and progression systems. He described Frozen Trail as a step toward that model.

That suggests Outposts, Skill Tree changes, Raider Decks, the new ARC Operation, and other October systems may be designed to connect with each other rather than exist as completely separate grinds.

Skill Tree Changes

The Skill Tree is officially being adjusted. Embark says the goal is to give players more agency over the type of Raider they want to become.

Specific Skill Tree nodes, respec rules, new skills, or additional Skill Points have not been revealed yet.

Raider Deck Improvements

Raider Decks are also being changed. Embark says it wants Decks to feel more engaging and rewarding for players.

No full Raider Deck rework has been shown yet, so claims about specific new bonuses or build paths should currently be treated as speculation.

Frozen Trail Begins Exploring the Origin of ARC

The new progression is also tied to the wider story. Embark says Frozen Trail will begin answering one of the game's biggest questions: what is ARC and where did it come from?

The update appears to be the first major step toward moving the story beyond simple survival in Speranza and toward actively fighting back against ARC.

If you want to build up your account before October, our ARC Raiders Level Boosting service can help you reach your desired level without spending weeks grinding raids.

New Weapons and Weapon Personalization

Embark has confirmed that new weapons are coming with Frozen Trail. More interestingly, the studio also teased "ways to personalize them," suggesting that weapon progression or customization may expand beyond the current system.

Individual October weapons have not been officially revealed yet, but datamining gives us several possibilities.

Stanza

The April files contain a firearm named Stanza. Its internal identifier points to a medium-ammo SMG.

There are currently no official stats, visuals, unlock requirements, or confirmation that Stanza will launch on October 8.

Malleus

The second weapon is Malleus. Its internal identifier appears to classify it as a heavy assault rifle.

Like Stanza, it may be intended for Frozen Trail, but Embark has not announced it.

Leaked Weapon Ascension System

A newer datamine points toward a possible system known as Ascension. It reportedly involves altered versions of existing weapons that behave differently from their standard versions.

Examples reported from the files include a fully automatic Burletta and other weapon variants with altered firing behavior. There are also references to weapon personalization or craftable skin-style content for weapons including Arpeggio, Rattler, Anvil, Toro, and Tempest.

The connection is interesting because Embark has now officially confirmed new ways to personalize weapons. However, the Ascension name and exact mechanics remain leaked information until Embark explains the system.

New Gadgets, Instruments and Cosmetics

Frozen Trail will add more than maps and guns. Embark has officially confirmed new gadgets, cosmetics, and instruments for the October update.

A previous datamine contained several playable instruments:

• Banjo
• Cowbell
• Accordion
• Harmonica
• Slide Guitar
• Tambourine
• Udu
• Bongos

The leaked descriptions say the instruments can be used to attract ARC attention and impress other Raiders. Since Embark has now confirmed that new instruments are coming, at least some of these could appear in Frozen Trail.

The same files also contain a placeholder Metal Detector described as a device for detecting buried items. It is not confirmed for October.

ARC Raiders Cameras Are Coming in October

New Camera gadget coming in the October update! This looks pretty cool honestly
by u/j1zzy_ae in ArcRaiders

On August 26, the official ARC Raiders social account confirmed another October feature: cameras are coming to the Rust Belt.

The announcement did not explain the full system. A camera with selfie functionality had appeared in earlier datamining, so the feature may allow players to take proper photos during raids rather than relying only on normal screenshots.

The Reddit response has been mixed. Some players are excited about photography, roleplaying, and capturing strange moments during raids, while others would rather see Embark focus on endgame systems, cheating, and progression.

The camera should still be viewed as an extra feature rather than the centerpiece of Frozen Trail. Embark has already confirmed much larger additions including a new map, ARC Operation, Outposts, progression changes, weapons, and enemies.

Is Player Trading Coming With Frozen Trail?

Player trading is one of the most requested ARC Raiders systems found in the datamine, but it is not officially confirmed for Frozen Trail.

The April files contain a trading feature connected to a location called Speranza Piazza. The text says players will be able to trade with other Raiders there, while another nearby string marks the system as "Under Construction."

Gaming sites including Insider Gaming, Dexerto, and others reported on the same leaked trading system. However, most of those stories trace back to the same datamined information rather than separate sources confirming it.

That means there is good evidence Embark has worked on player trading, but there is currently not enough evidence to say it releases on October 8.

Are Clans Coming to ARC Raiders?

A Clan system also appears in the leaked game files. The data includes a dedicated clan playstyle table with four categories:

• Quests
• PvP
• PvE
• Any

This suggests players may eventually be able to create or join groups based on the type of ARC Raiders content they want to play.

As with trading, Embark has not announced Clans as a Frozen Trail feature. The system may be planned for October, a later update, or still be in development.

Other Datamined ARC Raiders Content

Several other future features appeared alongside the Frozen Trail leak. These are worth tracking, but there is currently no solid evidence that all of them are part of the October update.

Toxic Swamp

Toxic Swamp is a leaked map condition involving geothermal fissures that release dangerous gases along with rare natural resources.

Acid Rain

Acid Rain would make outdoor areas dangerous by damaging Raiders caught on the surface during corrosive rainfall.

Heat Wave

Heat Wave appears to create extreme heat that makes movement more exhausting. The leaked description tells Raiders to stay in the shadows when possible.

The Queens

The Queens map condition references multiple Queens appearing in the same area without a nearby Harvester.

Repair Extractions

Repair Extractions could significantly change how raids end. The datamine suggests Return Points may stop working, forcing Raiders to repair them before they can extract.

An alternative leaked description also mentions surviving long enough for a fallback system to activate.

Scrappy Tier 5 to 7 and New Augments

The files also contain references to additional Scrappy progression, including names such as Feathered Enigma and Rooster of Legends.

Two Tier 4 Augments also appear:

• Raider Mk. 4 (Safekeeper)
• Raider Mk. 4 (Revival)

None of these have been officially tied to Frozen Trail yet.

Expeditions and Trials Around the Frozen Trail Launch

There are major progression changes happening immediately before Frozen Trail arrives.

The fifth Expedition window opens September 8 and closes September 29. After that, Embark is temporarily pausing Expeditions while it makes larger changes to the system.

The fifth Expedition will be the last one until early 2027. Existing consecutive buffs will remain during the pause, so players will not lose those bonuses.

If you still need to complete the current cycle, our ARC Raiders Expedition Project Boost can complete individual stages, farm missing resources, or finish the full fifth Expedition before the window closes.

Trials are also changing around the same time. The current Trials season ends on September 22, followed by a two-week pause.

Trials return on October 8, the same day Frozen Trail launches. Our ARC Raiders Trials Boosting page will also be updated once the new October Trials format is known.

The Expedition pause makes Frozen Trail's new Outpost and long-term progression systems even more important. Players will need new goals while one of the game's existing progression loops is offline.

How to Prepare for the ARC Raiders Frozen Trail Update

Embark has not published an official Frozen Trail preparation checklist yet, and we still do not know what the new Outpost, weapon personalization, or progression systems will cost. However, there are several things you can do now to be in a much better position on October 8.

The biggest decision is whether you plan to take the fifth Expedition on September 29 or keep your current Raider. The two paths require very different preparation.

Decide Whether You Are Taking the Fifth Expedition

The fifth Expedition is the last one until early 2027, and Embark has encouraged players who have been undecided to consider departing this time. It can award additional Stash space, Expedition Skill Points, the Zenith Outfit, mystery rewards, and continued account buffs.

However, departure happens on September 29, only nine days before Frozen Trail. If you depart, you will have a short window to rebuild your core progression before the biggest update since launch arrives.

The good news is that the fifth Expedition lets you opt out of resetting your quest progress, removing one of the more repetitive parts of previous resets.

If your Caravan is still incomplete, our ARC Raiders Expedition Project Boost can finish missing stages or secure the exact resources you still need before the departure window closes.

If You Are Departing, Build Your Stash Value First

Expedition bonus and catch-up Skill Points are still tied to Stash value. That makes the period before September 29 the time to keep looting rather than emptying your account for no reason.

Coins contribute directly to your overall wealth and also give you the flexibility to buy or craft what you need before departure. If you are short of your target, our ARC Raiders Coins Farm can build up your Coin reserve before the Expedition leaves.

Players who have already reached the Expedition caps should look at the decision differently. Bonus Expedition Skill Points are capped at 15, bonus Stash space is capped at 60 slots, and consecutive account buffs also have their own caps. If you already have everything maxed, weigh the remaining rewards against having to rebuild just before October 8.

If You Are Skipping the Expedition, Stockpile Coins and Materials

Players who do not depart keep their current progression, so the simplest Frozen Trail preparation is to enter October with a healthy resource reserve.

Embark has confirmed new Outpost research, weapons, weapon personalization, gadgets, and progression systems. We do not know their exact costs yet, so there is no specific material that everyone should hoard. Keeping a broad supply of useful crafting resources and Coins should still give you more options once the new systems become available.

If your reserve is low, you can stock up through our ARC Raiders Materials service or build a larger Coin reserve with ARC Raiders Coins Farm before the update lands.

Make Space for Frozen Trail Loot

The largest map in ARC Raiders is also bringing new weapons, gadgets, cosmetics, instruments, and other items. Going into Frozen Trail with an almost full inventory is likely to become annoying quickly.

Clear out low-value items you no longer need and create enough room for new discoveries. Players who are still short on storage can use our ARC Raiders Stash Expansion Boost to increase their available Stash space before launch.

Finish Your Existing Progression if You Are Not Resetting

If you plan to skip the fifth Expedition, the weeks before Frozen Trail are a good time to finish the progression you have been putting off.

That means upgrading Workshop benches, collecting important missing Blueprints, and getting your Raider to a comfortable level before Embark adds another layer of progression on top.

You can finish missing benches through our ARC Raiders Workshop Leveling service, while difficult RNG unlocks can be obtained through ARC Raiders Blueprints Boosting.

Rebuild Quickly if You Depart on September 29

Players taking the fifth Expedition have the opposite problem. Once departure happens, there are only nine days until Frozen Trail.

That means the priority immediately after September 29 should be rebuilding the basics: levels, Workshop benches, Stash capacity, Coins, Blueprints, and usable equipment. You do not need everything maxed, but you probably do not want to enter the new high-level ARC Operation while still rebuilding a fresh Raider.

Everything Confirmed for ARC Raiders Frozen Trail

If you want to ignore all leaks and focus only on what Embark has announced, this is the current confirmed October content:

• October 8, 2026 release date
• Largest map in ARC Raiders
• Frozen settlement beyond the mountains
• Villages, factories, research facilities, and an observatory
• More vertical exploration
• Above-ground and underground threats
• New high-level ARC Operation
• New ARC enemies
• An enormous new ARC machine
• New Outpost system
• Outpost decoration and research
• Deeper long-term progression
• Skill Tree adjustments
• Raider Deck improvements
• Story content exploring the origin of ARC
• New weapons
• New ways to personalize weapons
• New gadgets
• New instruments
• New cosmetics
• Cameras coming in October
• Continued matchmaking improvements
• Continued anti-cheat work
• Stability improvements
• Quality-of-life updates

Embark plans to reveal more Frozen Trail details in September, so this list should grow considerably before October 8.

Everything Leaked for Frozen Trail So Far

Not every datamined feature has the same chance of being part of October. Based on what has since been confirmed and how closely each leak connects to Frozen Trail, this is how we currently separate them.


Embark says a fuller Frozen Trail reveal is coming in September, so many of the remaining questions should be answered before launch.

Until then, the safest way to look at Frozen Trail is simple: the October 8 update is already confirmed to be much bigger than a normal map release. The new map, high-level ARC Operation, Outposts, progression overhaul, ARC enemies, weapons, and other systems could significantly change what long-term ARC Raiders progression looks like.

The Dead Reckoning and Frigate leaks could make it even bigger. For now, though, they remain leaks until Embark makes them official.