Embark Schedules ARC Raiders Update and Free Play

Embark Studios has scheduled the Frozen Trail update for ARC Raiders to launch October 8, alongside a free-play period running through October 12 on Steam, Xbox and PlayStation. The update and trial are planned developments; their effect on player activity has not yet been established. A trailer sets Frozen Trail in the snowy Pendola Pass and previews a downed Emperor ARC, a large machine whose fate remains uncertain. Other machines are shown gathering around it, while players may try to reach it before they do. The trailer also features a Frigate, described as a ship that transports ARC, and three new threats: the close-range Bully, the fast-moving Skulker and the Hydra. The free-play period coincides with the update’s launch. Players can access Pendola Pass during the period only by teaming up with someone who has unlocked it, according to the announcement. Embark has also highlighted additional update content, including new firearms, Amplified Weapons, a Yank Grenade and an Outpost expansion. The release arrives as one report describes ARC Raiders’ player base as having fallen rapidly from its launch-era level.