ARC Raiders Cold Snap Update: Worldwide Release Times and Key Features
- Sagar Mankar
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
ARC Raiders has been on a roll since its release in October, smashing player count records week after week and even winning Multiplayer Game of the Year at TGA 2025. Now, Embark Studios is ready to keep that momentum going with the launch of its next major update, Cold Snap.
Cold Snap will go live on Tuesday, December 16, at 10:30 a.m. CET, marking the second free content update since launch. The update introduces a limited-time winter event, dynamic snowfall conditions, expanded rewards, and even a seasonal Raider reset through the Expedition Project Raider. Players will also get access to a brand-new Raider Deck included directly in the base game.
Weather Update: The Cold Snap Arrives
Winter storms are sweeping across Speranza, transforming familiar raid locations into icy battlegrounds. Visibility drops, lakes freeze, and snow piles up across maps like Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, Spaceport, and The Blue Gate. Every raid now feels like a survival run.
Key changes include:
Environmental Hazard: Frostbite is a new threat. Stay outside too long and your health will slowly drain.
Shelter Mechanics: Raiders must rethink their strategies, using healing items, supporting teammates, and finding shelter to survive the cold.
Visual Overhaul: Snow accumulation, frozen lakes, and frost effects bring a fresh look to every battleground.
Seasonal Challenges
Two winter-themed challenges headline the update:
Flickering Flames Event: A survival test across 25 levels. Earn new gear, weapons, Rare utility items, customization options, and Raider Tokens by collecting Merits, which are automatically gained from XP. Raiders must play five rounds to activate the event.
Candleberry Banquet Project: A community-driven challenge with five stages. Collect Candleberries to unlock banquet scenes and earn cosmetic rewards, Raider Tokens, and Merits that also contribute to Flickering Flames progress.
The event and challenges run from December 16, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. CET until January 13, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. CET.
Cold Snap Start Time
United States (Central Time, CST) → December 16, 10:30 a.m.
United States (Pacific Time, PST) → December 16, 1:30 a.m.
United States (Eastern Time, EST) → December 16, 4:30 a.m.
Brazil (Brasília Time, BRT) → December 16, 6:30 a.m.
United Kingdom (GMT) → December 16, 9:30 a.m.
Central European Time (CET) → December 16, 10:30 a.m.
India (IST) → December 16, 3:00 p.m.
Japan (JST) → December 16, 6:30 p.m.
Singapore (SGT) → December 16, 5:30 p.m.
Australia (Sydney, AEDT) → December 16, 7:30 p.m.
Raider Deck Expansion
Cold Snap introduces the second Raider Deck, available free to all players. Starting Friday, December 26, the Goalie Raider Deck will be permanently accessible, offering:
New feats and items with rewards like Raider Tokens and cosmetics.
A hockey-inspired Raider outfit in multiple color variants.
A hockey stick Raider tool
Expedition Project Raider: Seasonal Reset
Lastly, players will have the chance to start fresh if they want. By taking on an Expedition—once they’ve completed the required tasks—they can perform a full character wipe.
This wipe lets players reset their stats and stash while giving their next Raider some boosts. These perks include an upgraded stash, extra experience gain, a bigger inventory, and more.
ARC Raiders is currently available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, or stream through NVIDIA GeForce NOW. Prices start at $39.99 USD for the Standard Edition and $59.99 USD for the Deluxe Edition.