ARC Raiders Goes Free for Four Days as Frozen Trail Update Arrives

ARC Raiders is opening its full game to new players for four days, just as Embark Studios releases Frozen Trail, its largest update since launch. For players in the Philippines, the trial begins on Thursday, October 8 at 5:00 PM and ends on Monday, October 12 at 4:00 PM (Philippine Time).

The promotion runs on Steam, PlayStation and Xbox. It is a temporary free-play event, not a permanent change to a free-to-play business model. Embark says the trial offers access to the full game rather than a limited demo.

See Embark's official free-play announcement.

ARC Raiders Free Weekend: Philippine Schedule

The developer lists the international window as October 8 at 09:00 UTC to October 12 at 08:00 UTC. That converts to 5:00 PM on October 8 through 4:00 PM on October 12 in the Philippines.

You can participate through the game's listings on Steam, PlayStation or Xbox. Look for the free-play option during the promotional period. An internet connection, a platform account and an Embark ID are required, and any platform-specific conditions should be checked on the relevant store.

The free weekend offers a useful opportunity to test the game's extraction loop before buying. In each raid, players explore a hostile surface, collect resources, contend with machines and other Raiders, then try to extract with their haul. The full trial means you can experience more than a standalone tutorial or restricted demo.

Frozen Trail Adds the Snowy Pendola Pass Map

Frozen Trail arrives alongside the trial on October 8. Its headline destination is Pendola Pass, a frigid former Italian settlement and Exodus transport hub. Players can explore remnants of a supermarket, a town square, an observatory and an abandoned train depot while investigating a fallen Emperor machine.

According to Embark, new players can reach Pendola Pass immediately when teamed with someone who has already unlocked it. That distinction matters: free access to the game does not necessarily mean every existing progression requirement disappears for a solo newcomer.

The update also introduces new map conditions named Frigate and Redirection. The official patch notes identify three new ARC enemy types, Bully, Skulker and Hydra, plus a range of new encounters intended to make expeditions less predictable.

Read the official Frozen Trail 2.0 patch notes.

New Weapons, Mobility Gear and Progression

Two new weapons join the arsenal: the Bantam and Stiletto. Frozen Trail also adds an Amplified Weapons system, along with equipment such as the Grappling Hook, Tether Launcher, Yank Grenade and cameras used for new activities.

For returning players, the larger changes go beyond the map. Embark has revamped the skill tree to create more meaningful build decisions, introduced a customizable Outpost with a research bench and furniture crafting, and added 22 quests.

The old Raider Deck approach has been reorganized into a Reward Pass system. Frozen Trail includes a free and premium track, while previously owned deck rewards are retained through a Legacy Pass. Check the in-game descriptions before purchasing optional cosmetics or passes, since the trial itself does not make premium extras free.

The developer has also documented memory-use and stability improvements, an AMD FSR 4.1.1 upgrade, and multiple gameplay fixes. That is welcome news for PC users, though the patch notes alone do not establish how much FPS will improve on any given system.

Should You Try It This Weekend?

If you have been curious about ARC Raiders but did not want to buy another multiplayer game without testing it first, this is the most direct way to see whether its extraction gameplay clicks for you.

Players with friends who already own the game have an extra reason to join: experienced teammates can help new Raiders navigate the systems and potentially reach Pendola Pass without waiting to unlock it independently. Newcomers should expect a learning curve, since surviving raids, managing gear and deciding when to extract are core parts of the experience.

The free-play offer ends at 4:00 PM Philippine Time on October 12. After that, continued access normally requires purchasing the game. Availability, store terms and any future promotions can change, so use Embark's official announcement and your platform's store page as the final references.

Read Embark's full Frozen Trail overview.