Or maybe you’ll just end up face down in the snow after dying in the usual ways

Image credit: Embark

Well, there you go. Arc Raiders’ winter update’s now got got a proper release date. Snow will be coming to the shooter on December 16th, and judging by the way Embark have revealed that, it looks like there could be a temperature-based twist coming to the usual murder-deathing and trying to sneak into places you shouldn’t.

The roadmap Embark put out last month offers a good glimpse into what’ll be coming with this update, dubbed Cold Snap. The snowfall map condition, which does what it says on the tin, will bring with it a "Flickering Flames" event, a new raider deck, and new quests.

Plus, a day after Cold Snap drops, the chance to reset your character via a prestige-esque extraction project will start being offered.

Cool. While the addition of snow alone’s not much to write home about, the fact Embark have revealed Cold Snap’s arrival date via a shot of a dead bloke lying in the now does seem like it might suggest some survival-style temperature mechanics you’ll have to stay on the right side of in order not to catch your death. Maybe flickering flames is all about chucking yourself into a fire before your fingers and toes start to freeze up and fall off.

Cold Snap marks the end of the additions Embark have pulled back the curtain on thus far, with a fresh roadmap for 2026 likely to arrive not long after the calendar flips over, if not before then. If you’re hopping in to raid some arcs over Christmas, make sure to check out our guides to everything from the best guns, to Field Depot locations and tracking down a coffee machine.