Are you ready to drop into the coldest chaos ARC Raiders has ever seen? Update 1.7.0, Cold Snap launched on December 16, 2025, bringing deep winter conditions, new survival mechanics, seasonal events, and quality-of-life improvements that reshape how you raid.
Trailer footage © Embark Studios AB. ARC Raiders is a trademark of Embark Studios. Used for news, commentary, and informational purposes.
What Cold Snap Changes in ARC Raiders
Winter Weather Everywhere
Cold Snap blankets major topside maps, including Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, Spaceport, and The Blue Gate, in snow and blizzards. Heavy snowfall reduces visibility, frozen terrain changes traversal, and frosty winds introduce a new survival twist. Raiders must now manage exposure to extreme cold or risk frostbite, a condition that slowly drains health when outside too long.
Dynamic Weather Gameplay
This isn’t just cosmetic snow. Frostbite forces tactical play: raid paths may change, open-field fights become riskier, and finding shelter becomes survival strategy. Expect firefights near structures, coordinated pushes indoors, and hot loot contested under icy skies.
New Seasonal Content & Events
Flickering Flames Event
Cold Snap introduces the Flickering Flames limited-time event. By earning Merits through gameplay XP, Raiders climb up to 25 reward levels, unlocking gear, cosmetics, and Raider Tokens. Note: You must log at least five rounds to participate.
Candleberry Banquet & Seasonal Projects
A new five-stage project task encourages scavenging Candleberries across snowy landscapes. Completing stages grants themed cosmetic items, Meridian Tokens, and Merits, pushing your progress in seasonal goals.
New Raider Deck – Goalie
Cold Snap adds a free, permanent Raider Deck called Goalie. This seasonal progression system lets players unlock new cosmetics and themed rewards starting December 26, 2025.
Quality-of-Life & Gameplay Improvements
Cold Snap isn’t just about snow graphics, it comes with meaningful features and community-requested quality-of-life changes, including:
- Skill Tree Reset: Players can now reset skill points without completing a full expedition, giving flexibility in character builds.
- Aim Down Sights Toggle: New control options for player comfort.
- Wallet UI Enhancements
- Raider Tool Customization
- Collision fixes, spawn adjustments, and stability improvements
These changes refine the overall gameplay loop and reduce friction in progression.
Cold Snap’s Impact on the ARC Raiders Meta
Cold Snap reshapes the risk/reward balance: survival mechanics add tension, weather dictates strategy, and seasonal progression offers fresh targets. Whether you’re battling frostbite, racing through Flickering Flames, or climbing the Goalie Raider Deck, this update reinvigorates ARC Raiders for the holidays and beyond.
Will You Brave the Cold?
Cold Snap isn’t just another patch, it’s a major evolution of ARC Raiders’ live service experience. Drop into the snow, adapt your loadouts, and push for seasonal rewards before the frost melts.
What’s your first Cold Snap strategy? Tag your squad and let us know below.
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