Arc Raiders achieved a seven-month high on Steam, hitting 131,388 concurrent players following the launch of the Frozen Trail 2.0 update, a free weekend, and the introduction of a Spider-Man-style grappling hook across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Steam Player Counts Surge Past 131,000 After Frozen Trail Launch
Embark Studios experienced a reversal in player engagement following the release of the Frozen Trail update on October 8, 2026. The extraction shooter had previously seen concurrent figures dip to roughly 35,000 players on Steam in September after maintaining lower baselines since July, following a peak near 500,000 at launch.
Within the first 24 hours of release, TechPowerUp noted a peak of 131,388 concurrent players, while other platforms tracked the surge climbing even higher. By the time the update rolled out across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S alongside a free weekend running through October 12, logged users on Steam reached 131,388.
One player noted on social media that they had just played an hour before work, and I couldn’t even explore more than 15% of the map
, praising the size of the newly added snow-covered region.
Pendola Pass Introduces Dynamic Loot and New Threats
The centerpiece of version 2.0 is Pendola Pass, a mountainous region located outside the usual Rust Belt environment. This map introduces a Dynamic Loot Zone system that shifts the value of specific residential locations between matches, keeping resource locations from remaining static. Players exploring the new region can also encounter weather conditions referred to as Frigate and Redirection.
Combat and movement have also expanded. Three new ARC machine threats—the Bully, Skulker, and Hydra—now patrol the regions.
Embark Studios Restructures Progression Systems
Embark Studios restructured the progression systems alongside the map update, completely rebuilding the skill tree from the ground up to offer more distinct player builds. The three core branches—Conditioning, Mobility, and Survival—now funnel players through binary choice nodes at 10 points and capstone choices at the 30- and 40-point thresholds. For PvE players, choices involve balancing Security Breach and Road Warrior against Mule’s Gallop and crawl skills, while PvP enthusiasts must select between Sprinting on Fumes, Wall Run, and Bull Rush rather than acquiring every movement perk.
According to build guides, players must carefully allocate a maximum of 76 points at max level, with optional allocation paths extending to 93 points using Expedition points.
To customize firearms further, players can utilize Weapon Stencils similar to blueprints once learned, though stenciled weapons remain fully lootable by rival Raiders upon elimination.
Not every change was met with universal praise. Embark Studios also removed the Solo vs. Squads matchmaking option. The developer explained that the decision stems from a desire to encourage players to utilize all available queue settings, though the mode is being re-evaluated for potential future adjustments.
Players Unlock Customizable Outpost Base
Meanwhile, older decks remain accessible via the Legacy Pass.
Players can also unlock a customizable base known as the Outpost by completing specific projects. The base supports modular expansion, a dedicated Research Bench, and the crafting of furniture using 100 furniture designs added to the game, with 73 discovered Topside, 22 unlocked through Outpost upgrades, 4 exclusive to the Frozen Trail Pass, and 1 exclusive to DLC.
As the free weekend concludes on October 12, attention turns toward upcoming developer milestones.