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ARC Raiders Will Add Weapon Amplification for 15 Weapons in Frozen Trail

The research bench in the expanded outpost will let players branch weapon behavior toward PvP or ARC encounters when Frozen Trail arrives on October 8, 2026.

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An armored ARC Raiders character carries weapon equipment in a snowy environment.

ARC Raiders will add a new weapon-customization system when Frozen Trail arrives on October 8, 2026. Called weapon amplification, the system will be tied to a research workstation in the expanded outpost and will let players attach branching modules to 15 weapons, changing their behavior against other Raiders or ARC machines.

The first examples already show how far the system can go. A Renegade rifle can receive a scope, the Burletta pistol can become fully automatic, and the Rattler rifle can fire incendiary rounds while gaining a 64-round magazine. Weapon amplification is not simply about chasing higher damage numbers, with each option changing how a weapon works instead.

Amplification will branch weapons instead of simply buffing them

Embark describes amplified weapons as something similar to a fifth quality level, although they will not grant automatic stat increases. Each weapon will instead open a branching path where players can select modules that alter its behavior and give it a different role in a loadout.

The Frozen Trail content preview shows how those options can turn familiar weapons into different tools. A fully automatic Burletta could serve a different role from its standard version, while a scoped Renegade may give Raiders a longer-range option without abandoning a familiar gun. The Rattler’s incendiary ammunition and larger magazine point in a more aggressive direction.

During a virtual preview event, executive producer Aleksander Grøndal said the system is not meant to make PvP fights shorter by pushing the strongest weapons even further. Embark has been careful not to boost the guns already dominating player-versus-player encounters. The goal is to give more of the arsenal a reason to be used.

Some branches will favor PvP, while others can make a weapon more useful against ARC machines. That creates a tradeoff for players building a loadout around a particular kind of encounter, rather than handing every weapon the same raw improvement.

There is still no dedicated PvE mode for ARC Raiders, so weapon amplification will not create a separate PvE playlist. Instead, it will let players tune their equipment toward fighting other Raiders or handling the game’s environmental threats within the existing extraction format.

The research workstation will support Frozen Trail’s wider progression push

The research workstation must be fully upgraded before players can use these weapon branches. Certain items found in the world may also provide research points to unlock options alongside other new features, although the full cost and progression path have not been detailed. That economy will determine how often players can pursue specialized builds.

Embark plans to expand the initial 15-weapon lineup with more additions in the future. Frozen Trail will also introduce Pendola Pass, its snowy new map, four new ARC enemies, a major Operation, and deeper progression. Weapon amplification gives that larger update a system that can affect everyday loadout decisions, not only the next area players have to survive.

Which weapon would you amplify first, and would you build it for PvP or ARC encounters? Share your choice in the comments, then follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.

ARC Raiders is a multiplayer extraction adventure, set in a lethal future earth, ravaged by a mysterious mechanized threat known as ARC. Enlist as a Raider and scavenge the surface to thrive in a desolate world. But beware of the machines. Beware of Raiders preying on others.

ARC Raiders blends the tension from extraction shooters with atmospheric settings from the adventure genre. Lurking threats—from deadly machines to other Raiders—create a constant ebb and flow of intensity, where every moment is charged with the thrill of high stakes. Extract valuable loot and explore the unfolding mysteries of a vibrant, lethal world.

ARC Raiders supports seamless social play across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. Play with your squad and thrive as a team, or rise in the ranks as a lone ranger.