ARC Raiders Update: Phantom Targets Ends as New Frozen Trails Tease Reveals How We Could Reach the New Map

Summary

The Phantom Targets storyline in ARC Raiders is coming to an end, but Embark appears to be setting up something much bigger. New clues point toward the ice-covered northern mountains and the upcoming Frozen Trails content. With the September 7 weekly rotation adding new blueprints, Trials, and objectives, Raiders have plenty to watch as the October 8 update approaches. It is also a good time to prepare your ARC Raiders Items.

1. Phantom Targets reaches a major turning point

The Phantom Targets storyline began with the mysterious signal detected beyond the mountains on September 1. By September 5, the investigation had narrowed down the route and confirmed that the targets were heading toward the ice-covered northern mountains.

This makes it clear that the strange signal was not simply a random event. It has been part of a much larger storyline that has gradually pushed Raiders toward an unexplored area.

However, Embark introduced an important problem at the end of the investigation. The current tube infrastructure cannot take Raiders that far north.

That immediately raises the biggest question for the next stage of the story: How will Raiders reach the northern mountains?

2. The Frozen Trails connection is becoming obvious

From a storytelling perspective, the connection between Phantom Targets and Frozen Trails is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

Earlier information about Frozen Trails described Shauny sending Raiders to investigate an unusual signal coming from beyond the mountains. The area was also associated with frozen settlements, towering mountains, factories, research facilities, and an observatory.

The conclusion of Phantom Targets follows a remarkably similar path. Shauny, mysterious signals, unusual ARC activity, and the northern mountains are all connected.

Embark has not officially confirmed that Phantom Targets is directly setting up Frozen Trails. However, the narrative parallels are strong enough that many players are already treating the current storyline as a prologue to the October 8 content.

3. What does the tube problem mean?

The mention that the existing tubes cannot reach the northern mountains may be more important than it first appears.

It suggests that ARC Raiders could introduce a new method of accessing the upcoming area. Based on how Embark has handled previous map expansions and infrastructure-related storylines, several possibilities are worth considering:

• Expanding or repairing the existing underground tube network

• Introducing another community-wide infrastructure project

• Adding a new rail or surface transportation system

• Unlocking the region through a story mission

• Opening a new map entrance with additional lore explaining the access

A community project would be particularly interesting. Embark has previously used infrastructure restoration as part of the process of opening new areas, so another collaborative event could provide both gameplay and narrative progression before Frozen Trails arrives.

4. September 7 weekly rotation brings new rewards

The latest weekly rotation also gives Raiders something to work toward while the larger storyline develops.

This week's rewards include the Vertical Grip 3 Blueprint, Venator 4, and White Scrappy Outfit, alongside a fresh set of Trials and objectives.

The Trials focus heavily on Stella Montis, including searching containers in the Medical Research Wing, finding Supply Drops, using Fireball Burners against ARC enemies, and dealing damage to Shredders.

For players looking to complete the objectives efficiently, Stella Montis should be the main map to prioritize this week. Several challenges can naturally be completed during the same runs, making the rotation relatively straightforward.

The Vertical Grip 3 Blueprint is arguably the most useful reward for players who are still missing it from their collection, although some members of the community have expressed interest in seeing an Angled Grip 3 Blueprint offered instead.

5. ARC Raiders is entering a bigger story phase

Phantom Targets now feels like more than a temporary event. The storyline has established the mysterious signals, tracked the abnormal ARC activity, identified a destination, and finally revealed a major obstacle preventing Raiders from following the targets.

That obstacle could become the bridge between the current game and Frozen Trails.

The biggest question now is whether Embark will introduce another project to solve the transportation problem before October 8, or whether the answer will be revealed as part of the Frozen Trails launch itself.

Either way, the northern mountains are clearly becoming increasingly important to the future of ARC Raiders. If Embark continues building on these narrative clues, Frozen Trails could mark one of the game's biggest story developments yet, giving players another reason to prepare with cheap ARC Raiders Items before the update arrives.