Embark Studios' breakout extraction shooter, Arc Raiders, is preparing for a significant seasonal shift and a fundamental change in its development rhythm. Following a blockbuster launch that saw it sell over 4 million copies in two weeks, the studio is gearing up to release its final major update of 2025. This comes alongside an announcement that will alter how players receive new content and fixes, marking a new phase in the game's post-launch lifecycle.
Commercial & Critical Performance
- Sales: Over 4 million copies sold within two weeks of launch.
- Peak Concurrent Players: 700,000 across all platforms.
- Critical Acclaim: IGN review score: 9/10.
The Arrival of the 'Cold Snap' Update
Scheduled for release on December 16, 2025, the 'Cold Snap' update is the culmination of Arc Raiders' 2025 content roadmap. The centerpiece of this winter-themed expansion is a new environmental condition called 'Snowfall'. While Embark Studios has been coy about the exact mechanics, a teaser image hints at a perilous new layer to the game's challenge, depicting a fallen raider in the snow. This suggests the cold weather will be more than a visual change, potentially introducing survival mechanics or deadly environmental hazards that players must navigate. The update will also introduce a new event titled 'Flickering Flames', fresh quests, and a new raider deck, which serves as the game's equivalent of a seasonal battle pass.
Key Update & Patch Information
- Cold Snap Update Release: December 16, 2025
- New Features: Snowfall map condition, Flickering Flames event, new quests, new Raider Deck (battle pass).
- Recent Patch Fixes (December 11):
- Removed an out-of-bounds zipline on Stella Montis.
- Fixed a wall collision exploit on Blue Gate.
- Patched a gap allowing wall-shooting on Spaceport's Launch Tower.
- Corrected material issues where cover did not block bullets or ARC vision.
- Update Cadence Change: Moving from guaranteed weekly Thursday updates to a more flexible Tuesday schedule without a fixed weekly rhythm.
A Strategic Pivot in Update Cadence
In a move signaling a shift from its frantic post-launch support phase, Embark Studios has announced a fundamental change to its update schedule. Since its October launch, Arc Raiders has benefited from a reliable weekly update cycle every Thursday. Starting with the Cold Snap update, all future patches and in-game store rotations will move to Tuesdays. More importantly, the studio has clarified that these updates will no longer be guaranteed on a weekly basis. The goal is to maintain rapid responses to critical issues but within a more sustainable development framework. This change is set against the backdrop of the upcoming winter holiday period in Sweden, where Embark is based, with the team taking a planned break to return refreshed for 2026's content.
Addressing Persistent Bugs and Exploits
The announcement of the new strategy was accompanied by a smaller patch focused on quality-of-life improvements and bug fixes. This patch targeted several frustrating issues that have persisted since launch. A zipline on the Stella Montis map, which players exploited to reach out-of-bounds areas, has been removed entirely. The developers also fixed a collision issue on the Blue Gate map that allowed players to vault through a wall and addressed a problematic gap in the Spaceport's Launch Tower area that enabled shooting through solid surfaces. Furthermore, Embark continues to tackle a longstanding problem where certain materials and surfaces failed to provide proper cover, fixing issues that allowed bullets and enemy ARC vision to pass through them.
Cementing a Successful Launch and Looking Ahead
The context for these updates is Arc Raiders' undeniable commercial and critical success. IGN's review awarded the game a 9/10, praising its polished gunplay and "irresistible grind" as setting a new standard for the extraction shooter genre. The player count has remained robust, having peaked at 700,000 concurrent players across all platforms. The Cold Snap update and the first 'Expeditions' window—a feature allowing dedicated players to prestige their accounts for new rewards—are designed to give the community substantial content to engage with over the holiday period. As Embark Studios prepares its team for a well-deserved rest, the focus is on ensuring a stable and enjoyable experience for players, setting the stage for the next chapter of Arc Raiders in 2026.