Amazing Details & Info on Arc Raiders COLD Snap Update
As expected with Christmas approaching, we have the Arc Raiders COLD Snap Update—a major update with wide-ranging changes to enhance the player experience. In the past few hours, various news has surfaced about changes to the Matchmaking system, schedules, and hidden rewards for Expeditions and Trials. Let's dive into all these details together.
Arc Raiders COLD Snap Update Release Times (December 16)
| Time Zone | Launch Time |
|---|---|
| PT | 1:30 AM |
| ET | 4:30 AM |
| GMT | 9:30 AM |
| CET | 10:30 AM |
Environmental Changes in the Arc Raiders COLD Snap Update:
The biggest visual change after the update is the addition of COLD Snap, which can introduce new changes and challenges during gameplay. Features like footprints left in the snow, the ability to track other players, and reduced visibility could significantly alter the game—especially in PVP and PVE, such as during battles against robots like Bastion—multiplying the excitement.
Policy and Schedule Changes
The weekly reset schedule, particularly for the in-game shop, has changed from Thursdays to Tuesdays.
A new Raider Deck has been introduced. Unfortunately, it is not available to everyone; only Premium players can access it, and it requires spending real money.
Expedition Dates and Reward Details
An Expedition window will be open from December 17th to December 22nd.
On December 22nd, all players will Depart simultaneously.
Also on December 22nd, when the Expedition window closes, every player's Stash Value and Coin Value will be calculated.
Upon completing the Expedition, players will receive the Patchwork Raider outfit as a reward.
Major and Complex Changes to the Matchmaking System
The highlight of the Arc Raiders COLD Snap Update is the major overhaul of the game's Matchmaking system. Previously, it worked based on Region and Player Count, but according to statements from Embark's art director, the new system will analyze player behavior. This means players will be placed in lobbies with others who play similarly. For example, if you're a PVP-focused player, you'll be matched with others who also focus on PVP. If you play more PVE, you'll be grouped with like-minded players.
This system appears to be secretly active in PC lobbies where Crossplay is turned off, although this hasn't been officially confirmed by the developers. In these lobbies, we see players looting together in a friendly manner without conflict, creating a cooperative atmosphere.
Details on Raider Trials Rewards
The rewards for Raider Trials have now been revealed, but in the opinion of many players, they aren't as substantial as expected. The high-tier reward is the Scarlett Outfit, which you can preview in the Customization menu. However, considering the significant effort required to reach the top ranks in Trials, this reward might feel disproportionate. It could have been a more exciting cosmetic item but unfortunately hasn't met expectations.
These are all the details released so far by the developers regarding the Arc Raiders COLD Snap Update. It's clear we should all expect new challenges in this update, but for more precise information, we'll need to wait until it officially goes live.
