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ARC Raiders is a PvPvE extraction shooter from the creators of The Finals, Embark Studios. Since its release on October 30, 2025, players have been flocking to the game to get their daily dose of extraction shooter goodness.
After its release, the first major update for the game was the North Line update, which introduced the Stella Montis map and Matriarch to the game. Now ahead of the holidays this year, Embark is gearing up to release the new Cold Snap winter-themed update.
Here's a complete overview of everything we know about the Cold Snap update coming to ARC Raiders.
Everything We Know About the ARC Raiders Cold Snap Update
The Cold Snap update is the second major update for ARC Raiders, as mentioned in the game's post-release roadmap. The update will launch on December 16, 2025, across all platforms ahead of the game's first expedition project window.
Here's an overview of what you can expect to see in this update:
Harsh Snowy Map Condition
The Cold Snap update will introduce a snow map condition in ARC Raiders. While Embark has not mentioned which maps will feature this map condition, a few teasers have given us a peek at the condition affecting the Blue Gate and Buried City maps.
The snow map condition will add new features like footprint tracking. Here are other features you can expect to see in the snow map condition:
- Environmental Hazard: Cold, harsh weather introduces new risks for raiders who remain outdoors too long. Players must watch out for frostbite, a creeping condition that slowly drains their health bar.
- Shelter Mechanics: To prevent frostbite, raiders will need to adapt their tactics as the cold gradually seeps into their bones. Raiders must rethink their loadouts, ensuring they can heal themselves or their teammates and plan their extractions with care, finding shelter if needed.
- Visual Overhaul: Frost buildup, frozen lakes, snow accumulation and more across Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, Spaceport and The Blue Gate maps.
It is still unclear as to whether the map condition will be a permanent addition to the map for the time being or if it will be a timed event like night raids and electromagnetic storms.
Seasonal Events
During Cold Snap, players can discover seasonal items and complete two winter-themed challenges tied to the new map conditions, earning rewards such as:
- Flickering Flames Event: An act of endurance and patience that tests Raiders’ survival skills during the Cold Snap. Raiders can unlock rewards across 25 levels, including new gear, customisation elements and Raider Tokens by earning Merits, which are automatically gained from XP in rounds. To activate the event, Raiders must have played five rounds of the game.
- Candleberry Banquet Project: A new project that brings Raiders together to feel the fragile warmth that shines through the frigid cold. Raiders can earn rewards by scavenging unique items topside and collecting Candleberries. It features 5 stages, each revealing a new scene on the banquet table. Completing stages grants rewards such as cosmetic items, Raider Tokens and Merits, with Merits contributing progress in the Flickering Flames event.
The Flickering Flames and Candleberry Banquet events will be available from Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 10:30 AM CET until Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 10:30 AM CET.
Raider Deck
A new raider deck will be added to the game with the Cold Snap update. Unlike the first raider deck, it seems like the new deck will be a premium one, which means players will have to purchase it with premium currency to claim the rewards.
Like the first raider deck, the new one will feature exclusive cosmetic items, item packs, free premium coins, cosmetic variants, and more.
This new deck will offer:
- New items and feats for playersto complete, offering rewards such as Raider tokens, cosmetic items and more.
- Includes a hockey-inspired Raider outfit in several colour variants, along with a hockey stick Raider tool.
Arc Raiders Cold Snap Update Release Date and Times
The second major update for Arc Raiders launches on December 16, 2025, across all platforms. Here's a detailed look at the release date and times in Arc Raiders:
- USA: 4:30 AM EST / 1:30 AM PST
- Brazil: 6:30 AM BRT
- UK: 9:30 AM BST
- Central Europe: 10:30 AM CEST
- UAE: 1:30 PM UTC
- India: 3:30 PM IST
- China and Hong Kong: 5:30 PM CST
- Japan: 6:30 PM JST
- Australia: 8:30 PM AEDT
The Cold Snap update will be the last ARC Raiders update for 2025, with the devs heading for holidays after tirelessly working on the game since its release.
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