Arc Raiders shifts to bi-annual major updates starting with Frozen Trail in October 2026

Embark announced Arc Raiders will move from monthly major updates to a bi-annual schedule to enable more transformative changes to the game ^{[1, 2, 3]}. Aleksander Grøndal, Executive Producer at Embark, explained the original plan was monthly updates to keep players engaged and the game feeling fresh. However, "the kind of long-term experience we want to create for ARC Raiders requires more transformative updates," he said ^[1].

Grøndal also noted the monthly update cycle limited the impact of changes. "You feel it, and we feel it too. Running at that pace isn't sustainable, or compatible with the bigger ambitions we have for this game," he added ^[3]. Instead, the bi-annual updates will be "larger in scale, more impactful, [and] with the goal to genuinely change how you play the game" ^[2].

The next major update, Frozen Trail, is scheduled for October 2026, about five months after the last update ^{[1, 3]}. It will introduce the game's largest map yet, named Riven Tides according to one source, set in a Rust Belt landscape with layered map design ^{[1, 2, 3]}. The update will add new ARC enemies with unique behaviors, new progression systems, an improved skill tree, and narrative elements exploring the origin of the ARC threat and the society of Speranza ^{[1, 2, 3]}.

Although the map is the largest in Arc Raiders so far, some players expected a size comparable to Buried City or more frequent map releases ^[3]. Despite slowing the frequency of major updates, Embark will continue to issue smaller live updates with balance changes, bug fixes, cosmetics, and events regularly between the bi-annual milestones ^{[1, 2, 3]}.

Frozen Trail will also introduce new goals for players at max progression and further the game's storyline ^{[1, 2, 3]}. It represents the first of the twice-yearly major updates Embark plans to maintain to deliver more substantial improvements and content.

The release of Frozen Trail next October marks a key milestone in Arc Raiders’ development as the team shifts from a monthly update cadence to a slower, more impactful update cycle.