ARC Raiders Cold Snap Roadmap Update Predictions: Snowfall Map Condition, Flickering Flames & Expedition Departure Window

Posted: Dec 01, 2025 Views: 9644

Posted: Dec 01, 2025

Source: IGGM

Dear Raiders, as we officially enter December, the next major update is just around the corner: Cold Snap update, which we previously saw on the roadmap for December.

While this update won't include a ton of new maps and content like North Line update a few weeks ago, it will still bring new gameplay experiences.

Next, let's discuss the possible updates for the upcoming Cold Snap. However, the full patch hasn't been released yet; we're currently only speculating based on recent statements from the developers regarding ARC Raiders and the trailers revealed, to infer what issues they might be aware of and plan to address, as well as some clues about the game's future direction.

ARC Raiders Cold Snap Roadmap Update Predictions: Snowfall Map Condition, Flickering Flames & Expedition Departure Window

Snowfall Map Condition

First, this Cold Snap update will include a Snowfall Map Condition. Currently, our only understanding of this condition comes from a few outdoor snowy scenes shown in the game's launch trailer, but this area doesn't currently exist in ARC Raiders.

Therefore, the prevailing speculation is that this is simply a preview of this important map condition. Its specific impact remains unknown.

How Will It Work?

Logically, we can predict it will probably be similar to Electromagnetic Storm, meaning it might affect multiple different maps, rather than being locked to a specific map like Spaceport's Hidden Bunker.

We say this primarily because the official promotion claims it's a key part of December update, and adding a condition to only one map would be disappointing. Furthermore, blizzards shouldn't only occur in one place in the open world.

However, this is all speculation, so we should proceed with caution. If it appears on all maps, or at least most, then its operation will probably be similar to other major map conditions like Night Raid and Electromagnetic Storm.

Currently, no major map condition activates Raider Hatch, and all conditions provide double Trial Points. Therefore, we can assume the same applies to Snowfall.

Furthermore, since Night Raid increases loot quality and blueprint drop rate, and Electromagnetic Storm may increase loot quality (although this is still debated), we expect Snowfall to also have one or more of these effects.

What Are The Implications?

Besides this, we can speculate on what Snowfall map condition might represent.

Sound Effects

Our first thought is sound effects. As we all know, ARC Raiders relies heavily on sound effects; players need to listen to their surroundings to perceive their environment. Therefore, sound is crucial in the game.

Snow has excellent sound-absorbing properties, making sounds even quieter. Therefore, we can easily imagine the game covering all outdoor areas with a fresh layer of snow. This way, players will make almost no sound when walking in the snow. The snow will absorb most of the noise on the map.

Footprints

Besides, walking in the snow will naturally leave clearly visible footprints. Therefore, even if you can move almost silently in the snow, you will always leave a trail behind you, meaning other players can track you. This undoubtedly creates an extremely tense and exciting combat atmosphere, making you constantly worried about other players ambushing you from behind.

Stamina Recovery & Mechanical Operation

Weather and extreme cold may also cause slower stamina recovery, and players may need to buy ARC Raiders items like Adrenaline Shot in Snowfall environment to restore survivability. Of course, this is just speculation.

This not only affects raiders but also ARCs. The cold and snow will slow down the operation of ARC mechanical parts, making them sluggish in every aspect, much like some event makes them easier to defeat.

Or you could say that Snowfall has the opposite effect. Perhaps it prevents ARCs from overheating, allowing them to utilize more energy and maintain higher power for longer periods. Perhaps it's both.

Overall, I think the most likely effects are sound and footprints. I think this is very predictable and fits the concept of snowfall perfectly. The other things I mentioned are actually just speculation. We don't really know.

Snowfall May Increase The Drop Rate Of Certain Blueprints

It's worth noting that each major map condition seems to significantly increase the drop rate of a super rare blueprint. For example, Tempest blueprint is generally considered easiest to find in Night Raid; Snap Hook blueprint is easiest to find during Electromagnetic Storm; and Bobcat blueprint is easiest to find during Locked Gate.

So, during Snowfall's activation, which blueprint will generate more frequently? We would say Deadline Mine blueprint. Since the roadmap doesn't mention adding new weapons, it's unlikely to be a new weapon blueprint.

Deadline Mine is a very powerful new item added in Patch 1.2, tied to a brand new map condition not yet in the game. The total number of blueprints has increased, meaning there should be a corresponding map condition that increases its drop rate.

Arc Raiders roadmap: All upcoming content and updates

Flickering Flames Event

Flickering Flames event is also listed in Cold Snap update section of the roadmap.

However, the meaning of the word event is currently quite vague. Since its release, the only event officially referred to as an event in ARC Raiders is Breaking New Ground Event. It initially unlocked Stella Montis map and later evolved into a route where rewards were earned through XP.

Therefore, Flickering Flames is likely just the next event where you can earn some small rewards for free, and they hope this type of event will continue.

However, some believe it might be a small new event added to the map, such as Husk Graveyard, Matriarch, or Harvester.

Expedition Departure Window To Be Launched

Expedition Departure Window will also open around mid-December, and they will also add a Raider Deck. If Flickering Flames event works as we expect, it might launch simultaneously with this new battle pass, but we cannot be certain at this time.

New Quests

More quests will be added later, and we speculate these will be related to Snowfall map condition. Alternatively, it might even be a continuation of our Stella Montis map adventure, as the events associated with that map end in a few days, and there seems to be some follow-up content. So, perhaps the new quests will stem from this.

That's all for today. This discussion revolved around ARC Raiders December roadmap and the game updates we know about, but everything is still speculation. However, Cold Snap update release is getting closer, so stay tuned!

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ARC Raiders Matchmaking Explained | How To Get PvE-Friendly Lobbies And Avoid PvP?

ARC Raiders is an extraction game that includes both PvP and PvE modes, but players are basically divided into two camps, each with their own preferences. Players who prefer PvE don't want to be involved in PvP.

However, since Arc Raiders' official release and even its tech test, the game's matchmaking mechanism has remained a mystery to players. Is matchmaking based on combat power or player behavior? And how can players get a good matchmaking experience?

ARC Raiders Matchmaking Mechanism

Regarding the matchmaking mechanism, the official stance has been one of silence, only officially denying the use of a gear-based matchmaking system.

The player community, through observation, speculates that Arc Raiders uses an aggression-based matchmaking system. Players who choose to avoid PvP, focus on looting, or cooperate against large ARC players seem to be matched into more relaxed matches. Players who immediately engage in combat (shoot on sight) are matched into extremely aggressive PvP matches.

Some players, by refraining from firing at others for approximately 15 consecutive matches and expressing a dislike for PvP in their post-match surveys, successfully entered matches primarily focused on PvE.

An art director from the game developer also revealed information about the matchmaking system in an interview with the media. He acknowledged that the matchmaking system is quite complex and stated that they do analyze player behavior and match players accordingly.

How To Enter Friendly Matches?

Assuming the above matchmaking conditions are met, we can figure out how to enter the matches we want. By avoiding PvP as much as possible, you can enter friendly matchmaking where players generally cooperate and there is very little direct confrontation.

Game Settings

If you are a PC player, it is recommended to turn off cross play in the settings, as community testing suggests that players in purely PC matches may be more inclined to cooperate. However, this is not mandatory, because it is possible to cooperate with players from other platforms.

Regarding servers, it depends on your language, as players who can communicate are more likely to cooperate through Proximity Chat. For example, if you are a native English speaker, you should prioritize North America servers. On EU servers, language barriers may lead to communication difficulties and even conflicts.

No Firing

This is the strictest rule. Regardless of whether you are being attacked by other players, you must never retaliate or initiate attacks. Damaging other players appears to be a key algorithmic basis for the matchmaking system to remove you from friendly matches. Even joking shots during retreat can have negative consequences.

Equipment Selection

When attempting to enter this mode, it is recommended to use Free Loadouts or not carry valuable items, focusing on collecting ARC Raiders Blueprints. You might lose equipment due to being killed before successfully entering the game because of the no firing rule above.

Active Communication

You need to actively use Proximity Chat at all times. When you enter a point of interest or hear other players, you should proactively communicate to show that you have no hostility or intention to cooperate. This greatly reduces tension among other players and avoids firefights caused by misunderstandings. Lack of communication, even if you have no malicious intent, can lead to you being attacked first by wary players.

Entering a friendly match may require multiple attempts, and the number of matches needed varies from person to person, potentially several or even a dozen, depending on your previous gameplay. If you prefer PvP, you may need to persist through even more matches.

Furthermore, the time it takes to successfully enter a match may be affected by factors such as Time of Day and Weekends, as the player base differs at different times. However, the core rules remain valid. As long as you adhere to the rules, you will eventually be able to enter.

How To Determine If A Match Is Friendly?

The system will not send you an email when you are removed from a PvP match, so you need to judge the nature of the match you are entering yourself.

The most obvious sign is that almost all Points of Interest on the map are quickly looted early in the game. This is because players in the match are focused on PvE and looting, moving and looting quickly without restraint, whereas in a normal match these resource points might go untouched.

The Uses And Benefits Of Friendly Matchmaking

This type of matchmaking is one of the easiest ways to complete Trials, quickly earn coins, or collect rare Resources and ARC Raiders Blueprints to craft high-level gear. It also provides a PvE environment for players who don't like PvP.

On Stella Montis, a map that usually sees intense PvP, entering a friendly matchmaking game transforms it into a pure PvE server where players help each other, fight Arc together, and loot resources.

Using player behavior as a matchmaking rule is a very good method, allowing players to find players with similar preferences. If you want to move away from PvP and have a more cooperative and relaxed gaming experience, then trying to be nice might be a strategy.
ARC Raiders All 75 Blueprint Recipes Guide | How To Save Your Time On Crafting?
Although the controversy surrounding ARC Raiders' use of AI voice acting at TGA hasn't subsided, players and developers seem to have shifted their focus to the new Cold Snap Update.

The core of this update is the new map condition Snowfall and the limited-time event Flickering Flames. In addition, regular mechanics and content have also been updated, such as newly added quests and blueprints.

Blueprints are valuable game items at any time; many other game items you collect require blueprints to be crafted into useful gear.

Considering that almost every blueprint has different recipe requirements, we will provide detailed recipes for all blueprints so you can craft faster with existing materials or collect materials more efficiently.

How To Obtain Blueprints?

As one of the important items in ARC Raiders, BluePrints are similar to a crafting menu. After unlocking your workshop, you can collect the necessary materials according to the blueprint recipe to craft the weapons or other advanced items you want.

More importantly, blueprint unlocks are permanent, meaning that after consuming a blueprint, as long as you have enough materials, you can theoretically craft the finished product repeatedly.

Fortunately, despite their importance, the acquisition mechanism for blueprints is not much different from other game items, mainly including the following channels:
- Completing quests given by NPCs
- Completing all weekly trials on time after reaching level 15
- Adventuring on various maps to find containers or enemies with loot
The blueprints obtainable through quests are fixed, currently only five:
- Burletta Blueprint - Industrial Espionage Quest
- Hullcracker Blueprint and Launcher Ammo Blueprint - The Major's Footlocker Quest
- Trigger Nade Blueprint - Sparks Fly Quest
- Lure Grenade Blueprint - Greasing Her Palms Quest
All Blueprint Recipes

After Cold Snap Update, there should now be 75 ARC Raiders BluePrints. Most of their recipes are different, and if you start crafting without knowing the recipes beforehand, you'll quickly find yourself missing this or that material.

Therefore, a more efficient approach is to match your existing materials with the blueprint recipes, select the blueprints for items you can craft immediately, and fully utilize your resource inventory before continuing to collect more materials.

Based on this, we have listed all currently known BluePrints, their recipes, and workshop requirements.

Bettina - Weapon - Gunsmith 3
- 3x Advanced Mechanical Components
- 3x Heavy Gun Parts
- 3x Canister
Blue Light Stick - Quick Use - Utility Station 1
- 3x Chemicals
Aphelion - Weapon - Gunsmith 3
- 3x Magnetic Accelerator
- 3x Complex Gun Parts
- 1x Matriarch Reactor
Combat Mk. 3 (Flanking) - Augment - Gear Bench 3
- 2x Advanced Electrical Components
- 3x Processor
Combat Mk. 3 (Aggressive) - Augment - Gear Bench 3
- 2x Advanced Electrical Components
- 3x Processor
Complex Gun Parts - Material - Refiner 3
- 2x Light Gun Parts
- 2x Medium Gun Parts
- 2x Heavy Gun Parts
Fireworks Box - Quick Use - Explosives Station 2
- 1x Explosive Compound
- 3x Pop Trigger
Gas Mine - Mine - Explosives Station 1
- 4x Chemicals
- 2x Rubber Parts
Green Light Stick - Quick Use - Utility Station 1
- 3x Chemicals
Pulse Mine - Mine - Explosives Station 1
- 1x Crude Explosives
- 1x Wires
Seeker Grenade - Grenade - Explosives Station 1
- 1x Crude Explosives
- 2x ARC Alloy
Looting Mk. 3 (Survivor) - Augment - Gear Bench 3
- 2x Advanced Electrical Components
- 3x Processor
Angled Grip II - Mod - Gunsmith 2
- 2x Mechanical Components
- 3x Duct Tape
Angled Grip III - Mod - Gunsmith 3
- 2x Mod Components
- 5x Duct Tape
Hullcracker - Weapon - Gunsmith 3
- 1x Magnetic Accelerator
- 3x Heavy Gun Parts
- 1x Exodus Modules
Launcher Ammo - Ammo - Workbench 1
- 5x Metal Parts
- 1x Crude Explosives
Anvil - Weapon - Gunsmith 2
- 5x Mechanical Components
- 5x Simple Gun Parts
Anvil Splitter - Mod - Gunsmith 3
- 2x Mod Components
- 3x Processor
Barricade Kit - Quick Use - Utility Station 2
- 1x Mechanical Components
Blaze Grenade - Grenade - Explosives Station 3
- 1x Explosive Compound
- 2x Oil
Bobcat - Weapon - Gunsmith 3
- 3x Advanced Mechanical Components
- 3x Light Gun Parts
Osprey - Weapon - Gunsmith 3
- 2x Advanced Mechanical Components
- 3x Medium Gun Parts
- 7x Wires
Burletta - Weapon - Gunsmith 1
- 3x Mechanical Components
- 3x Simple Gun Parts
Compensator II - Mod - Gunsmith 2
- 2x Mechanical Components
- 4x Wires
Compensator III - Mod - Gunsmith 3
- 2x Mod Components
- 8x Wires
Defibrillator - Quick Use - Medical Lab 2
- 9x Plastic Parts
- 1x Moss
Equalizer - Weapon - Gunsmith 3
- 3x Magnetic Accelerator
- 3x Complex Gun Parts
- 1x Queen Reactor
Extended Barrel - Mod - Gunsmith 3
- 2x Mod Components
- 8x Wires
Extended Light Mag II - Mod - Gunsmith 2
- 2x Mechanical Components
- 3x Steel Spring
Extended Light Mag III - Mod - Gunsmith 3
- 2x Mod Components
- 5x Steel Spring
Extended Medium Mag II - Mod - Gunsmith 2
- 2x Mechanical Components
- 3x Steel Spring
Extended Medium Mag III - Mod - Gunsmith 3
- 2x Mod Components
- 5x Steel Spring
Extended Shotgun Mag II - Mod - Gunsmith 2
- 2x Mechanical Components
- 3x Steel Spring
Extended Shotgun Mag III - Mod - Gunsmith 3
- 2x Mod Components
- 5x Steel Spring
Remote Raider Flare - Quick Use - Utility Station 1
- 2x Chemicals
- 4x Rubber Parts
Heavy Gun Parts - Material - Refiner 2
- 4x Simple Gun Parts
Venator - Weapon - Gunsmith 3
- 2x Advanced Mechanical
- 3x Medium Gun Parts
- 5x Magnet
Il Toro - Weapon - Gunsmith 1
- 5x Mechanical Components
- 6x Simple Gun Parts
Jolt Mine - Mine - Explosives Station 2
- 1x Electrical Components
- 1x Battery
Explosive Mine - Mine - Explosives Station 3
- 1x Explosive Compound
- 1x Sensors
Jupiter - Weapon - Gunsmith 3
- 3x Magnetic Accelerator
- 3x Complex Gun Parts
- 1x Queen Reactor
Light Gun Parts - Material - Refiner 2
- 4x Simple Gun Parts
Lightweight Stock - Mod - Gunsmith 3
- 2x Mod Components
- 5x Duct Tape
Lure Grenade - Grenade - Utility Station 2
- 1x Speaker Component
- 1x Electrical Components
Medium Gun Parts - Material - Refiner 2
- 4x Simple Gun Parts
Torrente - Weapon - Gunsmith 3
- 2x Advanced Mechanical Components
- 3x Medium Gun Parts
- 6x Steel Spring
Muzzle Brake II - Mod - Gunsmith 2
- 2x Mechanical Components
- 4x Wires
Muzzle Brake III - Mod - Gunsmith 3
- 2x Mod Components
- 8x Wires
Padded Stock - Mod - Gunsmith 3
- 2x Mod Components
- 5x Duct Tape
Shotgun Choke II - Mod - Gunsmith 2
- 2x Mechanical Components
- 4x Wires
Shotgun Choke III - Mod - Gunsmith 3
- 2x Mod Components
- 8x Wires
Shotgun Silencer - Mod - Gunsmith 3
- 2x Mod Components
- 8x Wires
Showstopper - Grenade - Explosives Station 3
- 1x Advanced Electrical Components
- 1x Voltage Converter
Silencer I - Mod - Gunsmith 2
- 2x Mechanical Components
- 4x Wires
Silencer II - Mod - Gunsmith 3
- 2x Mod Components
- 8x Wires
Snap Hook - Quick Use - Utility Station 3
- 2x Power Rod
- 3x Rope
1x Exodus Modules
- Stable Stock II - Mod - Gunsmith 2
- 2x Mechanical Components
- 3x Duct Tape
Stable Stock III - Mod - Gunsmith 3
- 2x Mod Components
- 5x Duct Tape
Tagging Grenade - Grenade - Utility Station 3
- 1x Electrical Components
- 1x Sensors
Tempest - Weapon - Gunsmith 3
- 3x Advanced Mechanical Components
- 3x Medium Gun Parts
- 3x Canister
Trigger Nade - Grenade - Explosives Station 2
- 2x Crude Explosives
- 1x Processor
Vertical Grip II - Mod - Gunsmith 2
- 2x Mechanical Components
- 3x Duct Tape
Vertical Grip III - Mod - Gunsmith 3
- 2x Mod Components
- 5x Duct Tape
Vita Shot - Quick Use - Medical Lab 3
- 2x Antiseptic
- 1x Syringe
Vita Spray - Quick Use - Medical Lab 3
- 3x Antiseptic
- 1x Canister
Vulcano - Weapon - Gunsmith 3
- 1x Magnetic Accelerator
- 3x Heavy Gun Parts
- 1x Exodus Modules
Wolfpack - Grenade - Explosives Station 3
- 2x Explosive Compound
- 2x Sensors
Red Light Stick - Quick Use - Utility Station 1
- 3x Chemicals
Smoke Grenade - Grenade - Utility Station 2
- 14x Chemicals
- 1x Canister
Deadline - Mine - Explosives Station 3
- 3x Explosive Compound
- 2x ARC Circuitry
Trailblazer - Grenade - Explosives Station 3
- 1x Explosive Compound
- 1x Synthesized Fuel
Tactical Mk. 3 (Defensive) - Augment - Gear Bench 3
- 2x Advanced Electrical Components
- 3x Processor
Tactical Mk. 3 (Healing) - Augment - Gear Bench 3
- 2x Advanced Electrical Components
- 3x Processor
Yellow Light Stick - Quick Use - Utility Station 1
- 3x Chemicals
If ARC Raiders releases more major updates in the future, new blueprints may also be added. In short, to ensure the game's playability, there won't be a fixed limit on the number of blueprints; all you can do is continuously collect materials and craft.
ARC Raiders Cold Snap Update Brings 6 New Quests | How To Complete Them?

Cold Snap update, while time-limited, offers a series of content centered around Snowfall map conditions, providing a brief but exciting ARC Raiders experience this winter.

Among all the new content, there are also 6 new quests. Although these are different from other Cold Snap gameplay and should remain in the game permanently, we still recommend completing them as soon as possible to earn rewards.

Below, we will provide you with the main steps to complete these 6 quests.

The Clean Dream

This quest requires you to first travel to Spaceport map and enter the underground tunnels, following the instructions provided by the quest system. The specific steps are as follows:

Step 1: Find the tunnel entrance in the southwest area of Launch Tower and enter.

Step 2: Search all interactive containers to find the 4 specific containers required by the quest.

Step 3: Find and monitor any one of the filtration systems in the tunnel.

Step 4: Travel to Blue Gate map and then find and enter Maintenance Bunker.

Step 5: Find the cylindrical purification system in the main room and interact with it.

Step 6: Find the blueprint on the table in the small room and take a picture.

Step 7: Return to Speranza and interact with Apollo to submit the quest results.

A Toxic Trail

If you completed the other main quests before Cold Snap update was released, you will find that some of them involved investigating water pollution issues, but these were not fully resolved. A Toxic Trail will bring these to a conclusion.

Step 1: Travel to Dam Battlegrounds map and find the barrel located in Water Treatment Center. This item previously appeared in Source of the Contamination quest.

Step 2: Walk around the barrel to trigger and find clues about the source of the barrel.

Step 3: Continue west to find a truck and take a picture as instructed by the system.

Step 4: Search the truck to find the final clue about the water contamination incident.

Step 5: Evacuate from the current map to return to Speranza and receive the next quest.

It's worth noting that when interacting with the truck door, you will obtain Spaceport Warehouse Key, which can help you open locked rooms and find more loot while exploring Spaceport map.

The Stench Of Corruption

As a follow-up quest to A Toxic Trail, The Stench of Corruption is fast-paced and includes combat elements. If you die during combat, you must start over from the beginning. Here are the detailed instructions:

Step 1: Travel to Departure Building located on Spaceport map.

Step 2: Follow the quest guidance to find a nearby room and search for clues about the saboteur's identity.

Step 3: Find and interact with the hazmat suit in the room to obtain Flushing Terminal Key.

Step 4: Leave the room and enter the underground tunnel in The Clean Dream quest.

Step 5: Find any Flushing Terminal and interact with it using the key you just obtained to complete the task.

Unlike the regular item rewards of other quests, The Stench of Corruption will give you a unique Warden outfit. If you like, you can wear it to travel to the next quest location.

Paving The Way

The only dangerous part of this quest is the final extraction phase, as there may be other real players near the extraction point. Even if they don't intend to attack you, you may still be accidentally injured.

So, don't let your guard down immediately after completing the task according to the following steps.

Step 1: Find an ENELICA building on any map, Water Treatment Center in Dam Battlegrounds is recommended.

Step 2: Find the bulletin board at the main entrance of the building and interact with it to obtain the researcher's notes.

Step 3: Extract and go to the new map, Buried City, and find the dual apartment buildings in the central area.

Step 4: In this building, find the apartment room where the researcher who wrote the notes lived, enter it, and find the research data as instructed.

Step 5: Extract from Buried City to complete the task.

Deciphering The Data

This quest takes place in Spaceport, a location you are already very familiar with. NPC who gives the quest is Shani. Here are all the steps to complete this quest:

Step 1: Find and enter the main room of Fuel Control building located in the northeast of the map.

Step 2: Find the terminal in the southeast corner of the room and interact with it using Magnetic Decryptor.

Step 3: Follow the new quest prompts to the top floor of Arrival Building to find another set of terminal machines, then successfully extract to complete the task.

The most dangerous part of Deciphering the Data is that you may encounter other players on the way to Arrival Building. If you are afraid of conflict, you can bring fewer items beforehand to indicate that you are only there to do the quest.

The Groundbreaking

This quest requires you to travel to Blue Gate map for investigation and item searching. If you are ready to brave the cold weather and potential enemies, please follow the instructions below to start the quest immediately.

Step 1: Take Blue Gate Communication Tower Key and travel to Pilgrim's Peak, located at the northernmost point of the map.

Step 2: Enter the building there, find a locked door in the eastern part of the building, and use the key you brought to open it and enter the room.

Step 3: Search the room for documents and interact with the whiteboard to obtain a photograph of a specific building.

Step 4: Travel to Abandoned Housing Project in the southwest of the map to trigger a new mission objective to photograph this location.

Step 5: Take the photograph and safely evacuate; the mission is complete.

Overall, these new missions are not difficult to complete, but they require traveling back and forth between different locations, which is quite time-consuming. Therefore, it's best to complete them all at once when you have free time.

We hope this guide helps you have a better gaming experience. Keep going, Raiders!
ARC Raiders Cold Snap Update Release Date, Snowfall Map Condition, New Raider Deck And More Details
On December 16th, ARC Raiders Cold Snap update will bring heavy snow and extreme cold to all maps, presenting raiders with harsh environmental challenges.

Players will need to relearn how to move, survive, and safely evacuate in this challenging environment. Only those who adapt will emerge victorious.

Date

ARC Raiders Cold Snap will launch globally and last for four weeks, ending on Tuesday, January 13th, 2026. Here are the updated times for key global time zones:
- North American West Coast: 1:30 AM PST
- 4:30 AM EST, North American East Coast
- 6:30 AM Brazil BRT
- 9:30 AM UK Time (Greenwich Mean Time)
- 10:30 AM Western European Time
- 6:30 PM Japan Time
- 8:30 PM Australia East Coast Time
Snowfall Mechanism

Outdoors

Snowfall, as a map event, will cover all areas of the map, including Rust Belt, Valley of Blue Gate, Abandoned Spaceport, and Red Lakes. Unlike standard raids, Cold Snap applies continuous environmental stress to raiders. Snowfall is not just a visual effect; it affects your combat, movement, and survival.

Prolonged exposure to the outdoors will cause raiders to suffer frostbite, resulting in continuous health loss. They must enter indoors or receive rapid healing to survive. Frostbite ignores armor, meaning even high-level gear is ineffective, but some instant-recovery items may be effective.

Because the map is covered in snow, gathering materials becomes much more difficult, so to combat frostbite, you should carry significantly more healing items than usual. Consider discarding some ammunition to make room for extra medical supplies.

Furthermore, the radar will malfunction after a few minutes, and the icy ground will make movement unsteady, both increasing the difficulty of combat and exploration. You can move short distances between buildings, but try to avoid lingering in open areas, as you'll leave footprints in the snow, making you vulnerable to being tracked by other players! Being suppressed by players outdoors will put you at a significant disadvantage.

Additionally, the different map layouts in Snowfall will have varying impacts on each map.
- Dam Battlegrounds: More open areas, limited shelters, requiring route planning and sufficient ARC Raiders items.
- Buried City: More indoor space, more frequent PvP battles.
- Spaceport and Blue Gate: A more balanced distribution of open areas and shelters, giving an advantage to players who can effectively manage movement between buildings.
- Stella Montis: Already a popular PvP map, Snowfall may further intensify PvP.
Shelter

Entering indoor areas will immediately stop frostbite. You can use items to restore health here. Buildings, underground spaces, and enclosed structures can all serve as safe zones during Snowfall event.

Of course, these safe zones will attract more other players than usual, and some squads may cluster together. You can cooperate for warmth or engage in combat to become the last survivor in the shelter.

If your map frequently sees PvP, the longer you stay in the shelter, the more dangerous it becomes. You should make full use of this time to rest and then venture out again.

Flickering Flames Event

Launching alongside Cold Snap is Flickering Flames event, a progress-based event. Players accumulate progress by gaining XP, with 1,000 XP equaling 10 Merits. However, new players must complete a total of five rounds of Arc Raiders to unlock the event, although this does not require successful extraction.

Flickering Flames has 25 tiers, rewarding players with gear, cosmetic items, and Raiders tokens. You're on a raid. You can progress using any source of XP, or you can avoid Snowfall map and accumulate progress on regular maps. You can gain XP by:
- Defeating large ARC enemies.
- Completing trials.
- Successfully extracting with valuable loot.
Candleberry Banquet Project

This update introduces a new project, Candleberry Banquet Project. Players need to collect Candleberries that spawn outdoors. The more Candleberries you successfully collect, the higher your Candleberry Banquet completion rate will be.

Candleberries can be used to craft candles, juice, tea, stews, perfume, and more, and these items may have mechanics that resist cold wave damage.

Furthermore, you'll earn Merits as you progress through Candleberry Banquet Project. This program is somewhat similar to a battle pass; as you progress, you'll earn rewards such as cosmetic items and Raider Tokens.

New Raider Deck

The release of the new Raider Deck has been slightly delayed, and it will be unlocked on December 26th and will be available to players for free.

The new Raider Deck features a Goalie-themed outfit inspired by old world clothing. It also includes a new raider tool skin, the hockey stick. This Raider Deck is permanent and won't disappear, so you can unlock it at any time. However, it's unconfirmed whether accumulated Raider Deck Points will carry over to the new deck.

Before the new Raider Deck update, this update also includes new portable, playable interactive items, an Acoustic Guitar, a gold-mask-style Mist Horn Set, futuristic Solar Panel Gadgets, and possibly even warming items to protect against the cold.

Snowfall transforms Arc Raiders into a true survival experience, where environmental awareness is just as important as combat skills. Use your tactics and items to adapt to winter warfare. The frozen wastelands of Speranza await your challenge, so Raiders, stay warm and survive!
ARC Raiders Cross-Play Guide | How To Enable And Utilize This Feature?
Almost every game available on multiple platforms is expected by players to offer cross-play functionality, as this means you can more easily play with friends and won't be restricted by device changes.

The demand for cross-play is even stronger for multiplayer online games, such as the recently popular ARC Raiders. Its PvPvE nature and support for two-player/three-player matchmaking highlight the importance and fun of playing with friends.

Fortunately, this game, available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, fully supports cross-play! If you don't know how to enable cross-play, or are unsure whether you should enable it, don't worry, we'll provide you with a helpful guide!

Preparation Before Enabling Cross-Play Feature

First, it's important to note that ARC Raiders does not support cross-platform ownership in most cases. For example, if you want to play the game on both PC and PS5, you must own ARC Raiders on each platform, respectively.

The only exception is Microsoft Store. If you obtain ARC Raiders there, you can unlock both Xbox and PC versions directly.

In addition, you must ensure you have a fixed Embark ID and link that ID to your current device account on the new platform. This will ensure that your existing game account progress and all earned ARC Raiders items are synchronized to the new platform when you log in.

How To Enable Or Disable Cross-Play?

Cross-play is enabled by default when you play ARC Raiders on any platform. So, as soon as you enter the game and start matchmaking, you may encounter players using other devices, and you and your friends can team up without restrictions.

If you haven't added your friends to your friends list yet, you can find and add them by entering their ID in the relevant search box in the game. Then, find them on the list and invite them to team up.

If for various reasons, such as potential imbalances in the combat environment due to different devices, you want to disable cross-play, it's possible. The specific steps are as follows:
- 1. Find the main menu and open the settings menu located in the lower right corner.
- 2. Find and open Gameplay tab.
- 3. Find Online section.
- 4. Find Cross-play option and click to disable it.
- 5. To re-enable it later, simply follow the steps above again.
Pros And Cons Of Cross-Play Functionality

The most obvious benefit of this feature is the significant reduction in matchmaking wait times. For players busy with work or studies, every minute in a game is precious relaxation time.

Furthermore, it not only provides convenience for teaming up with friends but also allows you to more flexibly choose your gaming device according to your needs, without being limited to either a controller or keyboard and mouse.

On the other hand, players using different devices often have certain overall tendencies, such as being more aggressive or more friendly. Cross-play means you might be matched with any type of teammate or enemy, increasing the excitement of the game.

However, because of this, the probability of encountering cheaters will become higher when cross-play is enabled, especially if you are a PS5 or Xbox player, as there are more cheaters on PC.

From an operational experience perspective, both the visual design and controller usage habits of ARC Raiders are more friendly to PC players. Therefore, if your opponents are from PC and you are not, you will inevitably feel a subtle unfairness.

Should You Enable Cross-Play?

Based on our analysis of the pros and cons of this feature, you can decide whether to enable cross-play based on your preferred gaming device and skill level.

If you are a PC player, you can keep this feature enabled by default, because generally speaking, console players are less likely to disrupt the game environment or cheat, and playing with more players of different styles can help improve your skills faster.

If you are a PS5 or Xbox Series X|S player, we recommend that you only enable cross-play when you are very familiar with the mechanics and controls of ARC Raiders, or when you need to team up with friends using different devices.

However, it's important to note that disabling cross-play will inevitably reduce the number of online players, which will increase matchmaking wait times, especially during off-peak hours. Therefore, if you want to avoid this, it's best to always keep this feature enabled.

Will ARC Raiders Be Available On More Platforms?

Considering the multiplayer online PvP elements of ARC Raiders, it is clearly not suitable for handheld devices like Switch, but playing on mobile devices should be feasible, as several shooting game series like PUBG and Call of Duty already have mobile versions.

However, considering that ARC Raiders is a relatively new game, even if there are plans to expand to new platforms, it will likely be a long time before they are implemented. The current focus of the game is still on perfecting its core content.

It's worth noting, however, that compared with many other online multiplayer games that still haven't implemented full cross-play, or whose cross-play features are buggy, ARC Raiders has done a great job from the start.

That's all the information for today. Later today, ARC Raiders will release Cold Snap update, allowing you to play with friends on other devices in new map variations and participate in new events! Stay tuned!
ARC Raiders 6 Raid Mistakes To Avoid: How To Survive And Successfully Extract?

In ARC Raiders, a third-person extraction shooter, players participate in intense 30-minute timed raid missions, scavenging for loot, battling hostile ARC robots and other players, and racing against the clock to extract before time runs out.

This requires players to survive in harsh environments and face challenging situations, including dealing with dynamically changing map environments, managing equipment risks effectively, acting stealthily, and developing optimal extraction strategies.

To successfully complete each raid within the limited time, you must avoid certain mistakes. So here we'll discuss some mistakes you might unknowingly make, seemingly insignificant tips that can completely change your gameplay and give you more advantages during raids. Let's get straight to the point.

1. Being Distracted By Other Major Events

First, we need to mention that raids, unlike other mechanics in ARC Raiders, only last about 30 minutes. Therefore, during a raid, do not let yourself be distracted by other events, especially the weekly challenge trials and the intermittently available Hidden Bunker.

Yes, Hidden Bunker gives players 40 minutes to complete the objective, longer than the standard raid mission time, giving players more time to scavenge for resources and download terminal data on Spaceport map after activating the four antennas to unlock it.

This is supposed to be a good thing, giving players more time to complete the objective, but many players find this time setting misleading, as Hidden Bunker is often looted by other teams, or raids fail because of time errors. Therefore, despite the ample time, players still feel frustrated.

2. Ignoring Barricade Kits

Next, we want to talk about Barricade Kits. To be honest, they haven't received much attention before. But they are crucial when healing teammates; for example, when someone is cornering you, you can place one down to get a free moment of rest. This applies to both solo and raid combat. You can even use them to directly block a corridor during a raid, preventing enemies from passing through, and almost without making any sound.

Even in a truly open raid environment, when we're under fire, we can use Barricade Kit to set up a decent cover area, both to deal with constantly spawning ARC drones and to protect ourselves from attacks. Therefore, using this tool effectively during a raid can greatly increase your survivability.

3. Underestimating Ziplines

The next item on the list is the severely underestimated zipline. As the game progresses, I feel their powerful utility truly changes the game, allowing you to fight on rooftops and surprise enemies.

In addition, you can use ziplines to enter any area with open windows, including rooms that are usually locked. You can also perform some cool tricks with ziplines, such as shooting while sliding, although the accuracy isn't great.

It's worth noting that ziplines also allow you to turn 180 degrees, meaning you can jump from a great height, then grab the zipline to completely avoid fall damage. However, be aware that once your momentum reaches its limit, you need to activate the zipline early to truly avoid damage. The flexible use of ziplines allows you to always gain an unexpected advantage during a raid.

4. Focus On High-Value Equipment

Regarding equipment, you don't need to chase after high-end gear like Aphelion or Hullcracker. Instead, consumables like Herbal Bandages, Shield Rechargers, and Adrenaline Shots, as well as weapons like Light Impact Grenade and Li'l Smoke Grenade, are the most frequently used items during raids. They are resources with very low crafting and usage costs, allowing you to easily maintain high damage output during combat.

Note that Light Impact Grenade is almost essential equipment to carry during a raid. It allows you to easily force enemies out from behind cover, interrupt their charging or prevent them from continuing to defend, and successfully launch an attack. Obviously, this concept also applies to other grenades. But if you don't want to invest more ARC Raiders coins in grenades, just choose Light Impact Grenade, as it costs almost nothing.

As for Li'l Smoke Grenade, they are crucial. Whether protecting yourself during an escape or obscuring the environment and covering teammates so they can get up and leave, this grenade is incredibly useful.

They are very inexpensive and easy to carry on every raid. Trust me, these items can truly help you change the tide of battle at critical moments.

5. Neglecting Climbing Techniques

Since ARC Raiders is a PvPvE extraction shooter, the core gameplay focuses more on stealth, positioning, and survival rather than fast-paced vertical movement. Therefore, vertical movement is less important than in other shooter games.

However, mastering relatively simple climbing techniques can often enable quick escapes and prevent fall damage. Yes, it can be used for some clever flanking maneuvers, such as climbing a ladder to the top of an outbuilding and then jumping to a central location, using climbing to avoid fall damage.

In addition, we can also use climbing to jump from high rooftops onto cars below, escaping difficult situations, repositioning ourselves, catching enemies off guard, and taking them down.

Note that if you fall for too long, you will no longer be able to climb onto any objects, and you must ensure you are facing the object you want to grab.

6. Blindly Allocating Ammunition

Finally, for a shooter game, the amount of ammunition you carry is crucial to your ability to consistently inflict damage and survive; otherwise, even if you carry a Torrente, it's just a useless piece of metal.

With Torrente becoming increasingly popular, many people are starting to use it, so we'll use it as an example here. In its level 2, its default magazine capacity is 70 rounds, plus one extra magazine, bringing the total to 78 rounds.

Although in standard mode, when we pick up Medium Ammo, it doesn't automatically fill the magazine in the equipment interface. However, once we enter a raid, these 80 rounds of ammunition are automatically loaded into the gun. This means that 78 of the 80 rounds will be loaded into the magazine, leaving us with only one reload opportunity during this raid, and the ammunition will quickly run out, which is obviously not ideal.

Therefore, if you are using a weapon with a larger magazine capacity, or a shotgun, it's best to carry more ammunition. Especially for some more difficult raids, if you want to reload, you need at least two sets of ammunition as backup.

In short, avoiding mistakes is crucial during ARC Raiders raids, as you need to face not only deadly ARC robots but also other players who are constantly ambushing you. Any mistake can lead to quick elimination, loss of valuable equipment, or even failure of the raid. Therefore, proper equipment management and a thorough understanding of the environment are key to survival in raids.