ARC Raiders Cold Snap Map Condition Returning: Check Release Date and More

Get ready to bundle up in your thermal outfits and buy lots of heat packs, Raiders. Embark Studios has confirmed that the ARC Raiders Cold Snap Map Condition will return on February 10, 2026. The frost will re-enter the Rustbelt, along with the thrilling survival gameplay that frozen fans have been waiting for since the thaw in mid, January, after a very successful premiere over the 2025 holiday season.

Why the Frost is Here Again

The reason for reintroducing this particular weather phenomenon goes beyond creating a winter wasteland visual. The ARC Raiders Cold Snap Map Condition Returns is a community-first move. During its debut, the "Cold Snap" was very well received as a game-changer that fundamentally changed how tactics were approached in the

game. Players had to keep moving as the visibility was greatly impaired and the environment was always an enemy. This made the traditionally very safe tactic of just "extract camping" almost impossible, thus raising the stakes for each raid.

This return is also in line with the 2026 "Escalation" Roadmap. Embark Studios intends to maintain freshness in the gameplay loop through the use of dynamic map modifiers. Introducing the cold snap again, the game makers are compelling experienced players to rethink their strategies and, at the same time, allowing new players to

experience the Rustbelt’s most atmospheric challenge

Survival Mechanics: Surviving the Deep Freeze

Once the ARC Raiders Cold Snap Map Condition Returns update hits, the hostile environment will be an equal threat alongside the ARC machines. Players will have to drastically change their playstyles and understand the following key mechanics in order to escape the deadly elements:

• The Frostbite Timer: Exposing yourselves outdoors for prolonged durations will activate a Frostbite status effect that gradually lowers your health.
• Thermal Routing: The key to survival, "indoor routing" mapping out the travel route to constantly go from one heated place (be it a building or fire) to another so you can keep on resetting your temperature meter.
• Frozen Terrain: Large expanses of water, like the ones you see in Dam Battlegrounds, will freeze, which means that you are going to get some fresh new rotation paths, but at the same time, be dangerously exposed.
• Limited Visibility: Fierce blizzards will cover the area with muffled sounds and foggy sightlines, which will lead to the preference of close-quarters combat rather than long-range sniping.

If you prefer running raids alone, don’t miss our ARC Raiders Best Solo Builds to Dominate Every Raid Alone, highlighting the strongest loadouts and strategies for surviving without a squad.

Rewards and Loot

The main reason to venture into the storm is the noticeable increase in the quality of the loot. As the ARC Raiders Cold Snap Map Condition returns, players will be able to find more high-tier blueprints and rare material spawns in the snow zones. Moreover, the return is often a signal for Candleberry bushes reappearing, which, aside from

Being necessary for some of the seasonal projects, can also be exchanged for valuable Raider Tokens.

Preparation for February 10

Don't become a frozen statue in the Buried City. Get your inventory ready now. Make sure to scavenge weapons fitted with thermal optics that will help spot enemies through blowing snow, and don't forget to include heat-producing items in your consumable slots.

The ARC Raiders Cold Snap Map Condition Returns is the first major event of the 2026 cycle. The winter-themed cosmetic items for the rare ones are a decent reason for the community to be excited, but a tactical cover of a blizzard to secure a massive loot haul from a February 10 update will be a defining moment for the community anyway. For a broader look at what’s coming next, check out our ARC Raiders 2026 Roadmap: Everything You Need to Know, covering upcoming updates, features, and long-term plans for the game.