Arc Raiders: Four Days Free-to-Play for the Massive Frozen Trail Update

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Embark Studios is making Arc Raiders free-to-play for four days. From October 8th to 12th, you can download and jump into the extraction shooter for free on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox. The occasion? The biggest update to date, “Frozen Trail,” is officially going live.

What’s particularly exciting is that this trial period comes with no restrictions. Embark states that players will have “access to the complete game,” meaning there won't be any locked content.

What's in the Frozen Trail Update?

According to Eurogamer, Frozen Trail is an expansion-sized update. It introduces, among other things:

a massive new map called Pendola Pass
several new Arc enemies
new weapons and gadgets
changes to ammo and crafting
a more classic Battle Pass

This marks the first major overhaul of the metagame. Embark has unveiled the details over the past few days.

Riesiger kegelförmiger Arc-Flugkörper schwebt mit Triebwerksflamme über einer nebligen Küstenlandschaft in Arc Raiders, davor die Silhouette eines Raiders — Bildquelle: Eurogamer (https://www.eurogamer.net/arc-raiders-free-trial-frozen-trail)

Can I Play the New Pendola Pass Right Away?

Technically, yes; practically, not quite. Free trial players are allowed to access the new map, but it must first be unlocked through level progression, which might take some time. The trick? If a friend has already unlocked Pendola Pass, they can invite you to their squad, and you can jump straight in with them.

What's Coming After the Free Trial?

Immediately following the trial, Embark is inviting players to a PvE test. From October 13th to 20th, player-on-player damage will be deactivated. This essentially formalizes a playstyle many lobbies already embrace: friendly cooperation instead of constant firefights. Many fans have been requesting such a mode since launch.

Is It Worth Jumping In Now?

From our perspective: yes, especially for the curious. Eurogamer notes that Arc Raiders no longer commands its massive launch audience. Frozen Trail could certainly entice returning players. Moreover, because the update significantly alters large parts of the core gameplay, it's also the perfect time for newcomers to jump in. There's no cost involved, but Embark didn't specify whether your progress from the trial will carry over if you purchase the game, so you should verify that before buying.