ARC Raiders Reveals Cold Snap Release Date

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The long-awaited Cold Snap update for ARC Raiders will launch on December 16, 2025, after being announced over a month ago. This update is expected to revitalize the game and bring back players who have completed most of the existing content, especially as the player base has begun to slightly decrease. The announcement was made on ARC Raiders‘ official X account.

The first major reset for ARC Raiders, called an Expedition wipe, was pushed back from December 15th to December 17th. This suggests the new ‘Cold Snap’ update was also likely intended to launch around December 14th but faced a short delay. This delay could be a deliberate move to tie the update’s story and environmental changes – which will temporarily affect gameplay on each map – to the wipe, making it feel more immersive and connected to the game’s lore.

What to Expect From ARC Raiders’ Cold Snap Update

  • Snowfall map condition — Cold Snap will add a winter-themed weather condition to existing maps: snow, likely affecting visibility and ambience
  • New Raider Deck — Players will get access to a fresh Raider Deck when Cold Snap drops
  • New quests — The update will add new quests to complete
  • New “Flickering Flames” event — A time-limited event tied to Cold Snap, similar to the recent “Breaking New Ground” event
  • First Expedition begins — As part of Cold Snap, the game will enable the first Expedition, giving players a chance to reset their Raider progress

ARC Raiders’ Cold Snap Update Could Be a Game-Changer

Okay, so ARC Raiders is getting a big update called Cold Snap, and from what I’ve heard, it sounds awesome! They haven’t spilled all the details yet, but it’s shaping up to really change how the game plays and give us a good reason to jump back in. Just the addition of snowfall is huge – even maps I know like the back of my hand will feel totally different. And knowing how good ARC Raiders is with sound, I’m expecting some new ambient noises that will make sneaking around even harder. Basically, it’s going to make every outdoor trip way more tense!

The upcoming snow will likely reduce visibility, making sound even more important for players trying to stay alive. The game already does this with rain, and the snow is expected to amplify that effect. Snow could also pile up high enough to block off buildings and previously accessible areas on the maps, forcing players to rethink their usual routes. Because the weather is being presented as severe, it’s possible the game will temporarily shorten each round to encourage faster movement and quicker decisions.

What Cold Snap Could Mean for ARC Raiders’ First Expedition Wipe

The recent Cold Snap update for ARC Raiders marks the beginning of Expedition wipes, so players getting ready to reset their Raiders should think about how that impacts their strategy. Currently, earning bonus skill points through Expeditions doesn’t seem worthwhile, as it requires a significant investment – 1,000,000 Coins worth of items and currency. But the Cold Snap update might change that, potentially making these skill points more valuable.

How ARC Raiders‘ Cold Snap update could factor into the first Expedition wipe:

  • More valuable loot drops
  • Increased drop rate for rare items
  • Greater quest rewards

Okay, so a lot of us have finished the stuff we needed to for the first ARC Raiders Expedition, but this Cold Snap update has me wondering if our efforts will pay off even more than we think. Embark hasn’t really explained how the weather will affect things, but imagine if the update makes the loot better, or lets more high-level items drop in the snow! Those of us who grind right up until the wipe could end up with a way better haul than we’re expecting. Even a small increase in the value of the stuff we find could be enough to unlock the next skill point tier, which would make the whole wipe feel way more satisfying than it looks right now.

Image via Embark Studios

Okay, so everyone’s buzzing about the Cold Snap update, and honestly, it feels like way more than just a typical seasonal thing. What’s really got me thinking is the timing. We all need to figure out how much we can earn and what’s worth keeping before the first Expedition wipe for ARC Raiders happens on December 22nd, 2025. It’s a bit of a pressure cooker, but it’s going to be interesting to see how everyone strategizes!

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2025-12-09 21:04