Embark Studios announced that Arc Raiders will no longer receive monthly major updates. Instead, the developer will release two major updates per year, beginning with a large October update titled Frozen Trail [1, 2, 3, 4].
Frozen Trail will be the biggest update so far, adding a new large map, new enemies, new progression systems, and expanded storyline content [1, 2, 3, 4]. Despite reducing the frequency of major content drops, live service support will continue with regular balance changes, bug fixes, cosmetic updates, and player events [1, 2, 3].
Aleksander Grøndal, executive producer, explained that the initial plan for monthly updates aimed to keep players engaged and the game feeling fresh. However, after launch, the team found the monthly cycle limited their ability to create transformative, long-term experiences. "You feel it, and we feel it too," Grøndal said, noting the pressure of monthly updates restricted the impact of each release [1].
Embark Studios said the new twice-yearly update schedule allows for larger, more meaningful content expansions while enabling more focus on game health, economy balance, anti-cheat measures, and fairness [1, 2, 3]. The studio committed to maintaining a dedicated live service team to handle day-to-day game operations, ensuring stability and ongoing community support [2].
Arc Raiders launched in October 2025. From January through April 2026, it received monthly major updates called Headwinds, Shrouded Sky, Flashpoint, and Riven Tides [4].
Community response to the update shift has been mixed. Some fans worry that cutting major updates to twice a year will reduce player interest and momentum [2]. Others, including some Reddit users, consider the change reasonable and welcome larger, more significant updates over quick monthly drops [4].
Frozen Trail is scheduled for release in October 2026, marking the first biannual major update under the new schedule [1, 2, 3, 4].
