ARC Raiders Frozen Trail First Look: Frigate & Weapon Upgrades
The Frozen Trail first look reveals Pendola Pass, a boardable Frigate, and branching upgrades for 15 weapons. Here's what changes for Raiders on October 8.
The ARC Raiders Frozen Trail update arrives October 8, 2026. Its first look confirms Pendola Pass, a snowy map built around a fallen Emperor, and the Frigate, an ARC vessel that Raiders can board and sabotage. Outposts bring weapon research into your home, while amplification adds branching upgrades to 15 guns. New enemies, two weapons, and grappling gadgets round out the reveal.
An automatic Burletta or scoped Renegade could change which guns you keep from an otherwise routine raid. That's why amplification is worth watching alongside the Frigate. It reaches into the everyday decisions about your stash, with research and rare materials giving you something specific to work toward.
Here's the breakdown of the official first-look video and Embark's September 23 content preview.
September 23, 2026 | Based on the official Frozen Trail first look.
Key takeaways
- Frozen Trail arrives October 8, 2026. Pendola Pass takes Raiders to a fallen Emperor, with flash freezes forcing them to find shelter.
- The Frigate is an encounter you board and sabotage, with rival Raiders able to fight you aboard it. A PvE-only mode was not announced in this reveal.
- Outposts provide the Research Workstation for weapon amplification. A fully upgraded station opens branching upgrades for 15 weapons, including an automatic Burletta and scoped Renegade.
- Reward Passes introduce free and premium tracks. The free Legacy Pass preserves existing Raider Deck progress.
Watch the ARC Raiders Frozen Trail first look
Watch the official first look on YouTube
The map walkthrough begins around 1:20, amplification around 7:31, and the new movement gadgets around 10:23.
What is Pendola Pass?
Pendola Pass is Frozen Trail's new map, set beyond the mountains north of the familiar Rust Belt. Celeste and Shani have traced the mysterious signal to a downed Walker, an Emperor, and Celeste wants Raiders to find a way inside.
The developers describe a large map that mixes open ground, vertical routes, and enclosed areas suited to close combat. Moving between exposed terrain and cramped interiors should reward a loadout that can handle more than one range, especially when another squad reaches the entrance before you do.
Flash freezes add another constraint. When one hits, the video says you'll need to get indoors or reach a shelter quickly. Knowing where you can take cover could be as useful as knowing where you want to loot. A long detour across open ground may look less attractive when the weather changes.
This is the first time the developers say players will get close enough to a fallen Walker to appreciate its scale. The premise gives the map a clear destination: reach the machine, then work out how to enter it.
Our earlier Frozen Trail development breakdown covers the plans that led to this reveal.
The Frigate is a boarding operation
ARC responds to the fallen Emperor by sending a huge vessel into the region. Raiders call it the Frigate. The developers compare the experience to boarding a pirate ship: get aboard, make your way through hazards, solve the puzzle, and reach the loot.
You aren't expected to destroy it by firing enough ammunition into its hull. The video describes sabotage as the objective. That changes the kind of challenge being proposed. Access, movement, and understanding the encounter become part of the fight.
Rival Raiders can also board the Frigate. The written preview says you may cooperate with them or fight your way past.
Did the developers announce a PvE-only mode?
No. Neither the September 23 first-look video nor the written Frozen Trail preview announces a PvE-only mode or a separate queue without player combat.
The developers discuss close-quarters PvP on Pendola Pass at about 2:31 in the first-look video. The written Frigate preview also says other Raiders can cooperate with you or fight their way through.
Bully, Skulker, and Hydra test different habits
The three newly detailed ARC enemies appear designed to pull your attention in different directions. Bully stays on top of you, Skulker punishes losing track of it, and Hydra can divide its attention among squads.
| Enemy | What the developers describe | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Bully | A large ground enemy that attacks relentlessly, with movement that can produce stumbles and collisions | Pressure that keeps you moving and makes the surrounding terrain matter |
| Skulker | A fast, smaller enemy that fires from range, hides, and changes position | Losing its location while another threat has your attention |
| Hydra | Three pairs of guns capable of targeting multiple squads | How your group spreads its attention and finds openings to attack |
Hydra is a stationary turret found on the Frigate. The video suggests dividing its attention to spread its firepower, which gives squads a specific tactical problem to solve.
Our ARC machine guide covers the existing roster and its attack patterns.
Outposts give weapon research a home
Outposts extend the Raider Den into a personal space closer to the new frontier. You can choose themed building modules and craft furniture, giving you more control over your home than changing your character's outfit.
The useful part for combat progression is the research station. It connects the home-building feature to the equipment you carry Topside. The video describes researching upgrades and then finding rare materials to apply them to weapons.
That gives scavenging a potential purpose beyond replacing what you lost last raid. It also leaves an important balance question open: how much time and material will a particular upgrade cost? A system that encourages experimenting with neglected weapons will need players to feel they can afford to experiment.
The developers describe Outposts as a feature they intend to expand over time.
How does weapon amplification work?
Weapon amplification adds a fifth quality level with branching modules, accessed through a fully upgraded Research Workstation. The developers explicitly say it doesn't grant an inherent stat boost just for reaching that level. Its purpose is to let players choose upgrades that change the weapon's behavior.
The first rollout covers 15 weapons. Examples in the video include making the Burletta fully automatic, fitting a scope to the Renegade, and giving the Rattler incendiary ammunition. A Rattler drum magazine is also shown; the written preview specifies 64 rounds.
Consider a player who usually leaves Burlettas behind. The automatic-fire branch gives them a reason to keep one and work toward a specific upgrade. Research turns a familiar gun into a project, which is a more interesting reason to bring it home than selling another spare.
Full material costs and upgrade branches are still unannounced. Those costs will matter: a gun that is fun to modify also needs to be affordable enough to risk in a raid. Our weapon comparison tool covers current weapon stats, a useful starting point for comparing the base guns.
Stiletto and Bantam join the weapon roster
Frozen Trail also introduces two guns with different starting points. Stiletto is presented as an early-game alternative to the Renegade, while Bantam offers another take on a compact revolver.
| Weapon | Ammo | Role described in the preview |
|---|---|---|
| Stiletto | Light | Battle rifle for measured shots at medium to long range |
| Bantam | Heavy | Snub-nosed revolver with distinctive hip-fire handling |
Stiletto can fire quickly if you press the trigger quickly, but accuracy suffers. The developers describe playing around distance and cover, with faster shots as an option when someone closes in. That suggests a weapon whose usefulness will depend on controlling the pace of the encounter.
Bantam offers another revolver option alongside the Anvil, with a distinctive hip-fire animation that leans into the gunslinger fantasy.
Grappling and tethers change movement and cover
The Grappling Hook is a hand-thrown rope that attaches to surfaces. The video shows the intended uses: descend the side of a building, climb through a window, swing over a gap, or attach to ARC.
That could make vertical routes less predictable. A window becomes a possible entrance, and a gap may stop being a reliable barrier between you and another Raider.
The Tether Launcher connects two points. The Yank Grenade pulls a nearby target with force, with examples including dragging Raiders out of cover and pulling flying ARC to the ground.
These gadgets could make positioning more active. Reaching cover may no longer be enough if an opponent has a way to pull you out of it. Equally, grounding a machine could create an opening for teammates who were struggling to hit it in the air.
Cameras, instruments, and weapon stencils
The new camera includes zoom, aperture presets, automatic and manual focus, and a selfie mode with dedicated emotes. Photos save to the Codex.
Those controls sound useful for players who already spend raids looking for a good view. Focus and aperture give them more say over the shot, while selfie emotes provide an obvious invitation to take some less dignified pictures during a dangerous encounter.
Banjo and Harmonica join the instruments. The written preview lists the Banjo blueprint in the Collector Set DLC. Weapon Stencils add cosmetic customization for guns.
What happens to Raider Decks and Reward Passes?
Reward Passes introduce free and premium tracks, while the free Legacy Pass preserves existing Raider Deck progress. Outfits are on the free track, with additional cosmetic options on premium, including outfit variations, hairstyles, backpacks, and weapon stencils.
The written preview gives the following breakdown:
- Free Pass: 200 Raider Tokens, five outfits, gameplay items, and 20 cosmetic items.
- Premium Pass: outfit toggles, colorways, stencils, hairstyles, and 1,150 Raider Tokens.
- Legacy Pass: free access to existing Raider Deck rewards with progress preserved.
- Collector Set DLC: both tracks, Renzo cosmetics, Dragon's Breath stencil, Bob hairstyle, and 2,400 Raider Tokens.
The preview doesn't specify prices or explain whether the listed token allowances overlap.
For returning players, the Legacy Pass is the detail to notice first. You can continue working toward older rewards while deciding whether the new premium cosmetics appeal to you.
What is still to come before October 8?
Embark also lists new quests, a Skill Tree rework, and another Map Condition. Its developer Q&A is September 25 at 6 p.m. CEST, noon EDT, or 9 a.m. PDT.
The practical questions are now fairly specific. How difficult is boarding the Frigate? How costly is replacing an amplified weapon? How do flash freezes affect routes through Pendola Pass? Those answers will tell us more about daily play than the size of the feature list alone.
Frozen Trail first-look FAQ
When does Frozen Trail release?
October 8, 2026. An exact launch time is still unannounced.
What is the new Frozen Trail map called?
Pendola Pass. The reveal places it beyond the mountains north of the Rust Belt, with a fallen Emperor drawing Raiders into the region.
What is weapon amplification?
It is a fifth weapon quality level that opens branching upgrades. The first rollout covers 15 weapons and includes changes such as a fully automatic Burletta and a scoped Renegade.
Are Outposts only cosmetic?
No. Alongside modules and furniture, they provide the research station used to develop weapon amplification upgrades.
Will existing Raider Deck progress be lost?
The announced free Legacy Pass preserves existing progress and keeps those rewards available to work toward.
Which amplified weapon would earn a place in your loadout? Share your pick and your plans for the Frigate in the ARC Raiders community forums.