Embark Studios announced the Cold Snap content update for ARC Raiders, scheduled to go live on December 16, 2025. The update adds a winter map condition across four maps, a frostbite survival mechanic, two limited-time progression events, and a free Raider deck arriving December 26.
The Cold Snap map condition will rotate on Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, Spaceport and The Blue Gate for a limited period that ends in January. The change is opt-in for each match and introduces snow, frozen terrain, and reduced visibility during blizzards. Raiders who spend too long exposed to the cold can suffer frostbite and will need to adjust loadouts and healing strategies to stay topside.
The update also launches two linked seasonal activities. Flickering Flames is a 25-level personal progression event unlocked after playing five rounds, converting in-game XP into Merits. The Candleberry Banquet project runs alongside Flickering Flames and rewards players for collecting Candleberries and completing scavenger tasks topside. Both the event and the project begin December 16 at 10:30 CET and run until January 13 at 10:30 CET.
The Goalie Raider Deck, a hockey-themed cosmetic deck with five reward pages, will be permanently added to the base game and made free on December 26. Players can unlock outfit variants, a hockey stick Raider tool, Raider Tokens, and other rewards with Cred. A more detailed outline of the Cold Snap changes is available in the developer summary on the site, which includes the map rotation and event timing.
Cold Snap Changes
COLD SNAP
Frigid winds carve through the valleys of The Blue Gate. Blizzards sweep across the abandoned spaceport while the Red Lakes freeze and crack. Raiders Topside battle on as they shiver and stumble and swear. Due for release on December 16th 2025, the Cold Snap update is the second content update from ARC Raiders since launch, and brings:
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- New Cold Snap Map Condition – Winter variant across Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, Spaceport and The Blue Gate maps.
- Cold-Weather Survival Mechanics – Exposure to extreme cold causes frostbite, encouraging new strategies around healing items, loadouts, and indoor shelter.
- Two Seasonal Challenges + Rewards – Unique loot and rewards available through the Flickering Flames event and Candleberry Banquet project.
- Second Free Raider Deck Added on December 26 – The Goalie Raider deck will now be included in the base game, bringing players 5 pages of unlockable rewards.
COLD SNAP MAP CONDITION
A cold front has swept in with snowfall, and a considerable drop in temperature. The air might feel crisp and brisk at first, but beware of frostbite! The new map conditions are opt-in and will be in rotation on Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, Spaceport and The Blue Gate maps for a limited period of time, ending in January. The new map condition includes:
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- Unique Loot Assets: Visually distinct Candleberry bushes which drop Candleberries, used for the Candleberry Banquet.
- Snow and Frost: The inclement weather brings challenges. Raiders may take frostbite damage if they spend too long outside.
FLICKERING FLAMES LIVE EVENT
The Flickering Flames event is a personal progression type event. There are 25 levels to unlock and exciting rewards for each, including new gear and customizations, and even some Raider Tokens.
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- Raiders progress through the event by earning Merits. These are automatically converted from your XP earned by playing on any map.
- Raiders can also earn additional Merits by participating in the Candleberry Banquet event (see below)
- In order to activate the event, Raiders must first have played 5 rounds in the game.
- The event starts on Dec 16 at 10.30 CET and ends on Jan 13 at 10.30 CET
CANDLEBERRY BANQUET PROJECT
The Candleberry Banquet is a Project where Raiders can earn rewards for scavenging specific items topside and collecting Candleberries. It runs alongside the Flickering Flames Live event.
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- Unlock 5 project stages, each stage completes a new scene on the banquet table.
- Completing levels earns you rewards, which include a new cosmetic item and Raider Tokens. Raiders can also earn Merits, which can be used to help complete the Flickering Flames event.
- The project starts on Dec 16 at 10.30 CET and ends on Jan 13 at 10.30 CET
GOALIE RAIDER DECK (From December 26)
The Goalie Raider Deck is a winter hockey-inspired deck which will be permanently added to the base game and is available for free from Dec 26.
- It features a hockey-inspired Raider outfit in several color variants, along with a hockey stick Raider tool.
- Players can also unlock 5 pages of rewards including Raider tokens, and gameplay as well as cosmetic items, using their Cred.
- There’s no time to lose this event will run from December 16th until January 13th, so put on your warmest gear and get up there.
Screenshot and art assets are hosted on the game’s Steam media servers and are available for reference on the publisher’s CDN.
Follow updates on Cold Snap and upcoming events for Arc Raiders on X, Bluesky, YouTube, and Instagram.
ARC Raiders
Developed by Embark Studios
ARC Raiders is a multiplayer, extraction adventure, set in a lethal future earth, ravaged by a mysterious mechanized threat known as ARC.
- Genre: Shooter
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5
- Modes: Multiplayer, Co-operative
- Release: 2025-10-30
- Publisher: Embark Studios
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Age Rating:
ESRB T / PEGI 16 / GRAC 15+ / USK 18 / CLASS_IND 14 / ACB M
- IGDB Rating: 89.7/100
