Frozen Trail lands October 8

Frozen Trail is Embark’s biggest ARC Raiders update since launch. You’ll be able to experience it on October 8.

At the heart of Frozen Trail is Pendola Pass. With help from Raiders, Celeste and Shani have triangulated the source of the strange signal that’s been ringing across Toledo. All signs point toward an old Italian village and Exodus transport hub called Pendola Pass, beyond the peaks that envelope the Rust Belt. Classic signs of an old-world civilization punctuate the narrow stretch: a supermarket, and a lifeless town square. Signs of the Exodus Project loom large: the observatory and buried train depot that once served as a major transit hub. Dominating everything else lies the reason Raiders are called there: one of the Emperors has fallen. Rare technology lies within. Between a scrambled ARC response and brutal flash freezes that cut through the valley, the adventure will be dangerous.

A fallen Emperor is unprecedented, and ARC are quick to react. They’re sending one of their largest vessels to patrol the area. Raiders have started calling it the Frigate. After finding a way to get on board, you’ll need to navigate its internal passageways, unlock paths, and defend yourself against ARC new and old. Other Raiders have their eyes on the prize too. Embark separately described an enormous new ARC Operation designed for experienced Raiders looking to push themselves even further, built around meaningful decisions, dynamic encounters, and moments that demand cooperation and careful judgment.

New ARC threats arrive alongside the map. Bully by name, bully by nature: an oppressive, aggressive beast that cedes no ground as it gallops upon your position. The Skulker is opportunistic, lying in wait and skirting the edges of your vision. The Hydra may not traverse, but it sure does move. Split into three stacked and autonomous portions, it’s a turret found upon the Frigate that can handle entire squads.

Celeste is offering Raiders who heed her call to explore Pendola Pass a home away from home: the Outpost. Nestled between the Rust Belt and the perilous mountain range, the Outpost is the first step to reclaiming parts of the surface. Customize it with modules and furniture, and use the Research Workstation to access higher levels of weapon customization and modding. Embark is also adjusting the Skill Tree to give you more agency over the kind of Raider you want to become. Raider Decks have also been on their radar. The content preview also lists a Skill Tree rework including new and improved skills, a new Map Condition, and new questlines.

Using the fully upgraded Research Workstation in your Outpost, Raiders will have the opportunity to access a fifth quality level for a range of guns. That feature is rolling out to 15 weapons. New weapons in the preview: the Stiletto, a light-ammo battle rifle, and the Bantam, a snub-nosed revolver that uses heavy ammo.

Gadgets include the Grappling Hook for climbing hard-to-reach spots, abseiling off buildings, and swinging over large gaps; the Tether Launcher and Yank Grenade; and a fully functioning Camera gadget, with pictures saving to your Codex. Two new instruments can be heard Topside: the Harmonica, and the Banjo. Weapon Stencils let you re-skin your weapon.

The Frozen Trail update also launches with the Reward Pass, an evolution of the Raider Decks. The Free Pass unlocks rewards by completing Feats. The Premium Pass is for Raiders who want more out of the update. The Legacy Pass is free for all Raiders and combines existing Raider Decks so you won’t lose existing progress. Embark also listed a Collector Set DLC for Raiders who want the full Frozen Trail Reward Pass package plus extra cosmetics and tokens.

The free play period from October 8 (09.00 UTC) to October 12 (08.00 UTC) coincides with Frozen Trail’s launch. ARC Raiders will be free to play across Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation, with access to the full game. New players will be able to access Pendola Pass immediately if teamed up with other players who have already unlocked the new map.