Arc Raiders Frozen Trail Release Time — Live Since October 8
Frozen Trail is live. The biggest Arc Raiders update since launch released as update 2.0 on Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 09:00 UTC: 2:00 AM PT, 5:00 AM ET, 10:00 AM BST and 11:00 AM CEST. Read the full Frozen Trail 2.0 patch notes. The free weekend that came with it ended on October 12, and the first follow-up patch, Update 2.1.0, arrived on October 13. Below: the release time in every region, the free weekend recap and what changed at launch.
Frozen Trail Is Live
Frozen Trail went live on October 8, 2026 at 09:00 UTC. Update your game and head for Pendola Pass.
Frozen Trail Release Time in Your Time Zone
The update launched at the same moment worldwide. There was no rolling regional launch, so Raiders in the Americas got it overnight and Raiders in Asia and Oceania got it in the evening.
| Region | Cities | Release Time | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| US West (PDT) | Los Angeles, Seattle | 2:00 AM | Thu, Oct 8 |
| US Mountain (MDT) | Denver | 3:00 AM | Thu, Oct 8 |
| US Central (CDT) | Chicago, Dallas | 4:00 AM | Thu, Oct 8 |
| US East (EDT) | New York, Toronto | 5:00 AM | Thu, Oct 8 |
| Brazil (BRT) | São Paulo | 6:00 AM | Thu, Oct 8 |
| UTC | Official reference time | 09:00 | Thu, Oct 8 |
| UK & Ireland (BST) | London, Dublin | 10:00 AM | Thu, Oct 8 |
| Central Europe (CEST) | Berlin, Paris, Stockholm | 11:00 AM | Thu, Oct 8 |
| Eastern Europe (EEST) | Helsinki, Athens | 12:00 PM | Thu, Oct 8 |
| Gulf (GST) | Dubai | 1:00 PM | Thu, Oct 8 |
| India (IST) | Mumbai, Delhi | 2:30 PM | Thu, Oct 8 |
| China & Singapore | Beijing, Singapore | 5:00 PM | Thu, Oct 8 |
| Japan & Korea (JST/KST) | Tokyo, Seoul | 6:00 PM | Thu, Oct 8 |
| Australia East (AEDT) | Sydney, Melbourne | 8:00 PM | Thu, Oct 8 |
| New Zealand (NZDT) | Auckland | 10:00 PM | Thu, Oct 8 |
How Official Is 09:00 UTC?
Embark confirmed the date, October 8, in the Frozen Trail First Look. The time comes from Embark's free weekend announcement, which starts the free play period at 09:00 UTC on October 8 to coincide with the update, and it matches the slot Arc Raiders updates usually deploy in. Embark confirmed the launch the same morning with its "Frozen Trail is live" post and the 2.0 patch notes.
The Free Weekend: October 8-12 (Ended)
To celebrate Frozen Trail, Embark opened the full game to everyone for four days, alongside a 50% discount on all platforms. The free weekend is over: to keep playing, you need to own the game.
Bought the game after the free weekend? Our Beginner's Guide and Extraction Tips cover the first hours.
What Changed at Launch
Cred Is Gone, Reward Points Are In
Cred was removed with Frozen Trail and replaced by Reward Points, which go toward whichever Reward Pass you have active. Raider Deck rewards you already claimed are still yours and now sit in the free Legacy Pass. Shani's offers are Coin based now.
Rubber Duck Inbox Message
The inbox message with the three community-made Rubber Ducks is no longer sent out after October 8.
The Skill Tree Has Been Reworked
Frozen Trail reshuffled the tree and added choice nodes and new skills such as Wall Run, Weapon Bash and Field Repair, so old builds no longer apply. Our Skill Tree guide covers the new tree.
PvE Toggle Test Follows on October 13
Five days after launch, Embark runs a one-week PvE matchmaking test from October 13 to 20. The Frigate stays PvPvE only. See the PvE toggle test breakdown.
What Is in the Frozen Trail Update?
The short version. For every change, read the Frozen Trail 2.0 patch notes.
Celeste Gets a New Face
Full Performance Capture for Celeste
Frozen Trail is the first time Arc Raiders uses full performance capture in its cinematics. Embark's Chief Creative Officer Stefan Strandberg explained that Celeste's limited expressions had been immersion-breaking, so she has been rebuilt to match the face and performance of Diana Gardner, the actor who has voiced her since the beginning. The new Celeste debuted in the Frozen Trail trailer on October 6 and is in the game now. More characters are planned to follow in later updates.
Frozen Trail Release FAQ
When does Arc Raiders Frozen Trail come out?
Frozen Trail releases on Thursday, October 8, 2026. The official free play period that launches with it starts at 09:00 UTC, which is 2:00 AM PDT, 5:00 AM EDT, 10:00 AM BST and 11:00 AM CEST.
What time does the Frozen Trail update go live?
Expect it around 09:00 UTC on October 8, 2026. That is the start time Embark published for the Frozen Trail free play period and it matches the slot Arc Raiders updates usually deploy in. Embark has not announced a separate downtime window, so the exact minute can shift.
Is Arc Raiders still free to play?
No. The Frozen Trail free weekend ran from October 8 (09:00 UTC) to October 12 (08:00 UTC), 2026 on Steam, Xbox and PlayStation and has ended. You need to own the game to keep playing.
Is Frozen Trail a free update?
Yes. Frozen Trail is a free update for everyone who owns Arc Raiders. Only the Premium Reward Pass (1,150 Raider Tokens) and the Collector Set DLC are paid extras.
What is new in Arc Raiders Frozen Trail?
A new map called Pendola Pass, the ARC Frigate, three new ARC (Bully, Skulker and Hydra), the Outpost, Amplified Weapons, the Stiletto and Bantam, a Grappling Hook, the Tether Launcher, the Yank Grenade, a Camera, a reworked Skill Tree and the Reward Pass that replaces Raider Decks.
What happened to my Cred when Frozen Trail launched?
Cred was removed when the update went live on October 8, 2026 and replaced by Reward Points, which count toward your active Reward Pass. Raider Deck rewards you already claimed stayed on your account and moved into the free Legacy Pass.
Can new players play the new map Pendola Pass?
Yes, with help. Embark says new players can access Pendola Pass when they team up with players who have already unlocked it. On your own it unlocks after 25 rounds played.