Embark Studios has confirmed that Cold Snap, the long-awaited winter update for Arc Raiders, will launch next week. The update goes live on Tuesday, December 16, marking the final major content drop on the game’s 2025 roadmap and introducing significant gameplay changes as the year comes to a close.
The studio announced the release date through a post on X, offering the clearest confirmation yet of what players can expect after months of hints and teasers.
16.12.25 pic.twitter.com/UxQH0nAP1L
— ARC Raiders (@ARCRaidersGame) December 9, 2025
Snowfall and Limited-Time Events Shake Up Expeditions
According to Embark’s official roadmap, Cold Snap will introduce a new environmental condition called Snowfall. This feature coats existing maps in snow, altering visibility and atmosphere while giving expeditions a distinctly harsher tone.
Alongside Snowfall, the update brings the Flickering Flames limited-time event. While details remain sparse, Embark has indicated that the event will be closely tied to the new winter mechanics and progression systems arriving with the update.
Players will also gain access to a new Raider Deck, the game’s progression system comparable to a battle pass, as well as a fresh set of quests designed specifically for the Cold Snap period.
In addition, Embark is adjusting expedition departure windows and refresh timings, changes that are expected to affect how frequently and strategically players plan their runs during the event.
Winter May Be More Than Visual Flavor
A teaser image released alongside the announcement has fueled speculation that cold weather will play a more active role in survival. The image shows a raider collapsed in the snow, suggesting that extreme temperatures may directly impact player endurance rather than serving as purely visual decoration.
Embark has so far stopped short of confirming cold-related survival mechanics, but the imagery implies that managing exposure could become a meaningful part of gameplay during Snowfall conditions.
Final Update on the 2025 Roadmap
Cold Snap serves as the closing update in Embark’s 2025 development plan for Arc Raiders. The roadmap, shared earlier in the year, positioned December’s update as a substantial content drop rather than a small seasonal refresh.
While the update arrives close to the holiday season, Embark has framed it in line with the game’s bleak, post-apocalyptic setting rather than a festive theme. The studio has not yet revealed what lies beyond Cold Snap, making this release a key milestone as Arc Raiders transitions into its next development phase.
Full patch notes and additional details are expected closer to launch. Arc Raiders: Cold Snap goes live on December 16.
