Embark Studios’ Arc Raiders’ next major update, Cold Snap, releases very soon. The upcoming update will be the last major update of the year as Embark pushes back on weekly patches for the forseeable future.

After weeks of speculation, Embark has confirmed what Cold Snap will actually add to the game with new cold weather hazards that will force players to hunt down shelters in the game.

In Arc Raiders Cold Snap, the game’s new Snowfall map condition will introduce cold, harsh weather conditions that will introduce frostbite to players who stay out too long outside. Once the frostbite hits, players’ health bars will slowly drain as they continue moving through the map.

With this in mind, the update also introduces new Shelters across the map. Players will have to find shelter to warm up, allowing players to heal and stay free from the cold. However, as the outside is now a deadly wasteland, players may find themselves fighting over the remaining inside space.

The Snowfall weather condition will hit Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, Spaceport and The Blue Gate, but not Stella Montis. Alongside the blanket of snow across the entirety of the maps, all of the game’s lakes will now be frozen with ice, opening up the environment in brand new ways.

Alongside the new mechanic, players will also be treated to the game’s Flickering Flames Event, a brand-new event that gives out 25 level of free rewards to unlock. To start the event, players will need to play give rounds of the game, but doing so will allow you to spend Merits on new tokens, customisation elements and new gear.

Additionally, there’s a new project, the Candleberry Banquet Project, which tasks players with scavenging Candleberries from Topside with five stages of rewards to earn.

On December 26, 2025, Arc Raiders will also introduce a brand-new Goalie Raider deck to the base game that will include a host of Hockey-inspired Raider cosmetics, new tools to unlock, and a host of items to grab for your stash.

For more Arc Raiders coverage, read about the game’s aggression-based matchmaking. Additionally, read about how Embark were shocked by the game’s massive exploits that fans discovered on launch day.