Arc Raiders 2.0 Update Hits 131,388 Peak Steam Players

Arc Raiders reached 131,388 peak concurrent players on Steam within 24 hours of its 2.0 update and free weekend launch. The free access period ran from October 8 through October 12, 2026, coinciding with the release of the major 'Frozen Trail' update, which Embark Studios calls the game's biggest since launch. Player counts began climbing immediately as new and returning players logged in, with further growth expected through the weekend.

Key features of the Frozen Trail update

The Frozen Trail update introduces a new customizable base called The Outpost, which players can expand with modules including a Research Station. It offers hundreds of furniture designs to collect and craft. A revamped skill tree now forces meaningful choices, with some nodes requiring players to pick between skills rather than unlocking everything. Later sections allow selection of up to two skills from three available options after investing points. New traversal tools like a grappling hook are also part of the package.

Changes to progression and matchmaking

Progression has been completely overhauled. The old Raider Deck system and Cred currency are gone, replaced by a new Reward Pass system. Reward Points now contribute to the active pass, with the first being the 60-level Frozen Trail Pass. Existing Raider Decks are accessible via a Legacy Pass. The update added 22 new quests and categorized Feats into Easy, Medium, and Hard tiers with different point payouts. Embark Studios is re-evaluating the Solo vs. Squads game mode, indicating it may return later after a rework. The studio explained the removal was motivated by a desire for "players to have a proper incentive to use all of the available matchmaking settings, which Solo vs. Squads currently lacks."

Additional content and technical details

Version 2.0 adds substantial new content alongside core system changes. A new map, Pendola Pass, features a Dynamic Loot Zone system where location values shift between matches. Two new map conditions, Frigate and Redirection, and three new enemies-Bully, Skulker, and Hydra-have been introduced. Players get two new weapons, the Bantam and Stiletto, plus equipment like Amplified Weapons, a Tether Launcher, Yank Grenade, and cameras. Weapon Stencils for gun customization and two additional Stash upgrade levels, raising the standard maximum to 328 slots, are also included. The map selection screen was redesigned, and the update bundled performance improvements and bug fixes.

Official sources and update availability

The full update notes are available on Embark Studios' official blog. Data from SteamDB validated the player surge following the update's release on October 8. Embark Studios has also announced an upcoming co-op mode slated to begin testing on October 13, 2026, and continues to iterate on its anti-cheat processes. The studio will re-evaluate the Solo vs. Squads game mode with potential for a future reworked return.