ARC Raiders continues to dominate the extraction shooter space, and its latest seasonal update proves Embark Studios has no intention of slowing down. The brand-new Cold Snap update introduces harsh winter conditions, limited-time events, meaningful quality-of-life upgrades, and eye-opening player statistics that show just how massive the game has become.Cold Snap Turns the Rust Belt Into a Frozen Warzone
The Cold Snap update blankets large parts of the Rust Belt in snow and ice, fundamentally changing how raids play out. Locations such as the Dam Battlegrounds, Spaceport, and Buried City now feature dynamic blizzards, reduced visibility, and a brand-new environmental threat: frostbite.
Spending too long exposed to the elements slowly drains health, forcing players to seek shelter, move carefully, or risk pushing objectives under pressure. It’s a smart twist that pushes squads into tighter encounters and makes every decision outside feel dangerous.
The Cold Snap event runs until 13 January 2026, giving Raiders a limited window to master the frozen battlefield and unlock exclusive rewards.
New Events, Rewards, and Progression Systems
Cold Snap isn’t just about atmosphere — it’s packed with new progression content designed to keep raids fresh.
Flickering Flames Event
This limited-time community event features 25 reward tiers, unlocked by earning Merits through normal play. Rewards include cosmetics, gear items, and Raider Tokens, making every successful run feel worthwhile.
Candleberry Banquet Project
A themed scavenger hunt tasks players with collecting Candleberries across frozen zones. Completing the project unlocks unique festive rewards and adds a surprisingly cosy contrast to the otherwise brutal winter conditions.
Free Goalie Raider Deck
Launching on 26 December, the Goalie Raider Deck is completely free and introduces additional cosmetic unlocks and progression bonuses — a welcome drop for both new and veteran players.
Quality-of-Life Improvements Players Asked For
Beyond the seasonal flair, Embark Studios has delivered some of the most requested improvements to date.
- Individual skill point resets are now possible for a small credit cost, rather than requiring a full expedition reset.
- A new toggle Aim Down Sights option improves controller and accessibility comfort.
- Improved Raider Tool customization and better spawn logic across maps.
- Blueprint drop adjustments, including moving high-demand blueprints to vendor rotations.
These changes don’t overhaul the core experience, but they smooth out long-standing friction points that players have been vocal about since launch.
ARC Raiders by the Numbers
The stats behind ARC Raiders paint a picture of a game firing on all cylinders.
- Peak concurrent players on Steam alone have reached nearly 500,000.
- Across all platforms, concurrency has reportedly exceeded 700,000 players at peak times.
- The game has surpassed 4 million copies sold globally within weeks of release.
- Streaming platforms recorded 35+ million hours watched shortly after launch.
What’s especially interesting is player behaviour: nearly one-fifth of players have never killed another player, highlighting how many are engaging with ARC Raiders as a PvE-focused survival experience rather than pure PvP chaos.
Community Buzz and Ongoing Discussion
The Cold Snap update has sparked plenty of conversation across the community.
Players are praising the improved blueprint drops, which feel far more generous post-update, while cosmetic hunters are chasing some of the most requested outfits yet. At the same time, discussion around long-term endgame depth continues, with many hoping Embark Studios expands raid variety and high-risk objectives in future seasons.
A cross-promotion with The Finals has also helped boost visibility, offering exclusive cosmetics for players who link accounts and jump between both games.
A Strong Signal for the Future
Cold Snap isn’t just a holiday-themed distraction — it’s a clear sign that ARC Raiders is evolving into a long-term live-service powerhouse. By combining environmental danger, meaningful progression updates, and player-friendly improvements, Embark Studios continues to refine one of the most talked-about shooters of the year.
If this is how ARC Raiders handles seasonal content, the frozen future looks anything but cold.
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