When Does the New ARC Raiders Season Come Out?

The next major ARC Raiders content update arrives in December as Embark Studios continues building the long-form post-launch roadmap for the game. Since its release on October 30, 2025, ARC Raiders has adopted a structured update cycle, delivering large themed patches that function as “seasons” — expanding maps, enemy types, events, and Raider Decks. This piece covers the expected release window, what’s officially confirmed, and how the December update fits into the broader ARC Raiders plan for 2025–2026.

ARC Raiders December Update Start Time

ARC Raiders first post-launch update, North Line Update, dropped on November 13, 2025. The second major patch — known internally as Cold Snap — is scheduled for December 2025, following the same cadence of monthly large-scale expansions.

While Embark has not provided a precise timestamp, their previous releases suggest a typical rollout around 9:30 UTC, which matches the game’s launch timing and the deployment window used for North Line. Server downtime usually precedes major gameplay patches, after which the new content becomes immediately available across Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

ARC Raiders Seasonal Structure

ARC Raiders doesn’t use a traditional Battle Pass format. Instead, each “season” is essentially a content cycle update: a themed drop of new environments, enemies, weather conditions, events, and a refreshed Raider Deck that expands cosmetic rewards and progression options.

The North Line Update introduced a new zone, enemies, weapons, and dynamic events, establishing what ARC seasons look like in practice. The December Cold Snap release continues this approach, adding a winter-based biome variation and new gameplay systems while keeping the progression flow consistent.

ARC Raiders December Update: Details & Early Info

The Cold Snap update focuses on delivering a full winter-themed overhaul. Players can expect:

• A new or seasonally altered map sector featuring snow, reduced visibility, and weather-affected combat
• An expanded enemy roster tied to the frozen environment
• A new seasonal event, rumored internally as “Flickering Flames”
• A new Raider Deck containing cosmetics and utility items
• Quality-of-life adjustments refined from community feedback after North Line

This model mirrors how Embark uses each update to reshape the world in cycles, similar to how Fortnite OG rotates past eras. Cold Snap effectively acts as ARC Raiders’ “winter season,” setting the tone for future thematic updates.

What to Expect From ARC Raiders New Season?

ARC Raiders blends extraction-shooter systems with co-op PvE objectives, and each update aims to deepen environmental storytelling. The December season introduces dynamic winter storms, temperature-linked hazards, and altered loot-run routes, reshaping how squads approach encounters. Embark continues tuning weapon feel, AI behavior, and movement systems so the experience stays fresh despite rotating environments.

The developers stated goal is to create long-term replayability through seasonal world states rather than a fixed battle-pass grind. Cold Snap pushes this philosophy further by using biome changes and escalating threats as the core seasonal identity.