ARC Raiders: Free Update 2 Brings a Big Chill

ARC Raiders Winter Chill Transforms Raids into Challenging Trials

Fresh off its Best Multiplayer Game of the Year 2025 win at The Game Awards, Arc Raiders is offering a free preview of upcoming features starting December 16, 2025. Dynamic blizzards will cover the main maps—Buried Town, Space Port, Training Ground, and Blue Portal—transforming them with snow. This cold wave enhances the game's aesthetics and introduces new survival mechanics. Prolonged exposure inflicts progressive frostbite damage, forcing players to manage healing items and seek shelter. This new environment requires a reevaluation of strategies, especially regarding equipment and movement, turning raids into more challenging trials where the terrain itself becomes an adversary and heightening the game's immersive qualities. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is also receiving additional content, including the "Stories Untold" update and the GP37V2 rifle. The Stories Untold content drop takes players to the western Chornobyl Anomalous Zone following a mysterious emergency transmission. This update includes seven new locations, six new characters, and a new hub in the Burnt Forest area for storing loot. Players will also encounter other stalkers in familiar locations. The S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 update further includes: Eight new quests. A new storyline about strange occurrences near Malachite.

ARC Raiders Winter Update: Flickering Flames Challenge, New Raider Deck, Projects, and Expeditions

The GP37V2 rifle, featuring a built-in silencer, low-powered scope, and single-burst fire options. A 25-level challenge called "Flickering Flames" that tests endurance and patience, with rewards like unreleased loot, cosmetic items, and Raider Tokens. "Project Candleberry Banquet," a group project where raiders collect Candleberries to brighten festivities on Speranza. The second Raider Deck, "The Goalie," which will be added for free to all editions of the game starting December 26th. Unlike temporary events, this content will be permanently accessible. "Project Expedition," which allows raiders to seasonally reset their progress, restarting with certain bonuses and rewards retained. With free updates delivering a wealth of fresh content for both titles, players have much to look forward to in the coming weeks.

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