ARC Raiders Welcomes Back Cold Snap: A Chilling Return to the Extraction Battlefield

In a move that has sent a ripple of excitement-and no small amount of frost-through its dedicated community, ARC Raiders is officially bringing back one of its most talked-about environmental modifiers. Embark Studios confirmed that the Cold Snap map condition will return to the game's regular rotation starting February 10, 2026, ending weeks of speculation and reigniting debates about weather, balance, and immersion in the extraction shooter space.

The announcement came via the official ARCRaidersGame account on X, accompanied by a haunting image of snow-covered industrial ruins beneath a washed-out sky. Framed as a tongue-in-cheek weather forecast, the post read:

"Clear skies and sunny temperatures are predicted for Topside this weekend, but don't pack your winter gear away yet folks; the weather towers are predicting sporadic snowfall in the foreseeable future! The Cold Snap returns to our regular rotation of conditions from February 10 ."

Playful tone aside, the message was clear: Cold Snap is no longer just a seasonal novelty. It's now a permanent part of ARC Raiders' evolving battlefield.

A Quick Look at ARC Raiders

For the uninitiated, ARC Raiders is a free-to-play multiplayer extraction shooter developed by Embark Studios and published by Nexon. After years of anticipation, betas, and design pivots, the game launched in late 2024 to strong interest. Set in a post-apocalyptic future where Earth has been overrun by hostile machines known as ARC, the game blends PvPvE combat, scavenging, and high-stakes extraction.

Players take on the role of Raiders, venturing into dangerous zones called Topside to collect resources, complete contracts, and survive encounters with both AI-controlled ARC units and rival human teams. The tension comes not just from combat, but from decision-making: how long do you stay, how much do you risk, and when do you extract?

One of ARC Raiders' standout features is its dynamic map conditions-environmental modifiers that fundamentally alter how a match plays. These conditions can change visibility, movement, sound design, and even enemy behavior, ensuring that no two raids feel exactly the same.

What Is Cold Snap?

Cold Snap is one of the most ambitious of these conditions.

First introduced in the December 2025 1.7.0 update, Cold Snap transformed familiar maps into harsh winter landscapes. Snow blanketed ruined cities and industrial complexes, while blizzards swept through open areas, turning long sightlines into white voids. Visibility dropped dramatically, forcing players to rethink engagement distances and positioning.

But Cold Snap wasn't just cosmetic. It introduced several layered mechanics:

Reduced visibility: Snowstorms and fog made ranged combat riskier and ambushes more common.

Sound changes: Footsteps crunching through snow became louder and more distinct, making stealth harder in some scenarios and easier to track in others.

Movement penalties: Icy surfaces caused slipping, slower traversal, and loss of precise control-deadly mistakes in firefights.

Environmental traversal: Frozen lakes and waterways opened new paths, but with the constant risk of ice breaking under sustained weight or combat.

Enemy behavior changes: Some ARC machines slowed due to simulated frost buildup, while others became more aggressive, charging players as if to "warm up."

Survival mechanics: Raiders without proper thermal gear risked hypothermia debuffs, reducing stamina and effectiveness over time.

The result was a condition that didn't just look different-it felt different, demanding new loadouts, pacing, and teamwork.

From Limited-Time Event to Permanent Feature

Originally, Cold Snap was introduced as a limited-time seasonal event, running from December 2025 through January 2026. It was paired with holiday-themed incentives, including:

Double trial points for specific challenges

Unique Cold Snap trials, such as throwing snowballs at Bombadiers (massive ARC units that explode on impact)

Rare ARC Raiders blueprints and cosmetics, including frosted weapon skins, winter-themed armor accents, and playful emotes.

By most metrics, the event was a success. Player engagement spiked, social media filled with clips of icy mishaps and dramatic snowstorm firefights, and many praised Embark for leaning into environmental storytelling.

The return of Cold Snap to the regular rotation is Embark's answer to that feedback.

Implications for the Meta

From a gameplay perspective, Cold Snap's permanent return could meaningfully shift the meta.

In extraction shooters, consistency breeds optimization. Players learn routes, sightlines, and timings until efficiency replaces tension. Conditions like Cold Snap disrupt that comfort. Thermal optics gain value. Close-quarters weapons see more use. Sound awareness becomes critical. Teams must decide whether to risk longer raids in freezing conditions or extract early with smaller hauls.

For solo players, Cold Snap can be both a blessing and a curse-harder to see threats, but also easier to disappear into the storm. For squads, coordination becomes even more important, as getting separated in a blizzard can be fatal.

Long-term, these shifts help ARC Raiders avoid stagnation, one of the biggest threats to live-service extraction games.

What Comes After the Snow?

Embark's February 2026 roadmap teases a "NEW" map condition arriving later in the month, possibly around February 24. Cryptic symbols shown on the roadmap have fueled speculation: seismic activity, electrical storms, or even gravitational anomalies.

If Cold Snap is any indication, future conditions won't just tweak visuals-they'll reshape how ARC Raiders is played.

A Frosty Vote of Confidence

The return of Cold Snap isn't just about snow. It's about identity.

By embracing bold environmental modifiers and responding to community feedback, Embark Studios reinforces what makes ARC Raiders stand out in a crowded genre. Cold Snap adds friction, unpredictability, and atmosphere-qualities that keep extractions tense and stories memorable.

Come February 10, Raiders would be wise to keep their winter gear close. The battlefield is about to get cold again-and that's exactly how many players like it.

MMOexp ARC Raiders Team