Arc Raiders developer Embark Studios has totally detailed the sport’s Chilly Snap replace and its new cold-weather survival mechanics.
The replace, out December 16, provides the brand new Chilly Snap map situation, which is a winter variant throughout Dam Battlegrounds, Buried Metropolis, Spaceport, and The Blue Gate maps. Chilly Snap provides cold-weather survival mechanics fueled by snowstorms throughout Speranza. Snowfall reduces visibility, lakes freeze over, and the open floor turns into much more harmful. Publicity to excessive chilly causes frostbite, thus encouraging new methods round therapeutic objects, loadouts, and indoor shelter.
Arc Raiders Chilly Snap gameplay modifications, from Embark Studios:
- Environmental Hazard: Chilly, harsh climate introduces new dangers for raiders who stay outdoor too lengthy. Gamers should be careful for frostbite, a creeping situation that slowly drains their well being bar.
- Shelter Mechanics: To stop frostbite, raiders might want to adapt their ways because the chilly step by step seeps into their bones. Raiders should rethink their loadouts, guaranteeing they’ll heal themselves or their teammates and plan their extractions with care, discovering shelter if wanted.
- Visible Overhaul: Frost buildup, frozen lakes, snow accumulation and extra throughout Dam Battlegrounds, Buried Metropolis, Spaceport and The Blue Gate maps.
Elsewhere, distinctive loot and rewards can be found via the Flickering Flames occasion and Candleberry Banquet undertaking.
Flickering Flames Occasion: An act of endurance and endurance that exams Raiders’ survival abilities in the course of the Chilly Snap. Raiders can unlock rewards throughout 25 ranges, together with new gear, customizations components and Raider Tokens by incomes Deserves, that are mechanically gained from XP in rounds. To activate the occasion, Raiders will need to have performed 5 rounds of the sport.
Candleberry Banquet Mission: A brand new undertaking that brings Raiders collectively to really feel the delicate heat that shines via the frigid chilly. Raiders can earn rewards by scavenging distinctive objects topside and gathering Candleberries. It options 5 phases, every revealing a brand new scene on the banquet desk. Finishing phases grants rewards resembling beauty objects, Raider Tokens and Deserves, with Deserves contributing progress within the Flickering Flames occasion.
Beginning December 26, the Goalie Raider deck will likely be included within the base recreation. The brand new deck consists of new objects and feats for gamers to finish, providing rewards resembling Raider tokens, beauty objects and extra. These embody a hockey-inspired Raider outfit in a number of colour variants, together with a hockey stick Raider software.
And at last, the Expedition Mission Raider Reset lets gamers restart their journey with sure buffs, benefits, and rewards. The Expedition Mission will present Raiders with a chance to bear a reset, bringing a brand new raider and a brand new story for the participant. This elective reset is unlocked by gathering key supplies to construct a Caravan for the present Raider then signing up for the departure in the course of the Expedition window. By departing, gamers will reset their character progress for a brand new Arc Raiders journey with unique buffs, benefits and rewards that carry over.
In a weblog submit, Embark defined why it’s doing the seasonal reset. “Development wipes are a notoriously troublesome factor to steadiness in on-line multiplayer video games — we get that,” the developer mentioned. “Necessary international wipes have some apparent advantages: closely invested gamers get to re-experience the preliminary grind as soon as once more and, for a time, the taking part in subject is levelled. The elective Expedition Mission is our resolution to a few of the issues that inevitably come up with obligatory wipes — particularly, by respecting your time funding within the recreation. We need to give you the selection:
“Not accomplished as a lot as you’d like? Carry on raiding, constructing, and rising. Prepared for a brand new problem and to grind as soon as once more? Depart on the Expedition, and obtain buffs, rewards, and bragging rights.”
Arc Raiders Chilly Snap replace launch instances:
Embark Studios launches Chilly Snap on Tuesday, December 16, at 10.30am CET / 9.30am UK time / 1.30am PT / 4.30am ET.
Chilly Snap consists of limited-time occasions and components operating from Tuesday, December 16 till Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 10.30am CET / 9.30am UK time / 1.30am PT / 4.30am ET.
Chilly Snap is the final replace listed as a part of Arc Raiders’ 2025 content material roadmap, and Embark has but to stipulate what’s coming in 2026. Arc Raiders offered over 4 million copies worldwide inside two weeks of launch, cementing its industrial success. Nexon additionally revealed that the extraction shooter had reached an enormous concurrent depend of 700,000 gamers throughout all platforms. It is completed so effectively it crossed over into the world of South Park with a shock look that was put collectively in only a few days. Cementing its success, Arc Raiders received Finest Multiplayer at final week’s The Recreation Awards.
IGN’s Arc Raiders overview, returned a 9/10. We mentioned: “With polished gunplay and an irresistible grind, Arc Raiders units a brand new normal for extraction shooters.”
If this has tempted you into leaping into Arc Raiders, take a look at our information to the greatest settings, discover out what abilities we suggest unlocking first, and see learn how to earn loot by delivering subject depot crates.
Wesley is Director, Information at IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You may attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
