Fans of Embark Studios' intense extraction shooter ARC Raiders can dust off their winter gear once more. The popular Cold Snap map condition, which brought blizzards, snowfall, and bone-chilling frostbite mechanics to the Rust Belt, is rejoining the game's regular weather rotation starting today.
The Announcement
Embark Studios surprised the community with the news via an official X post on February 7: "Clear skies and sunny temperatures are predicted for Topside this weekend, but don't pack your winter gear away yet folks; the weather towers are predicting sporadic snowfall in the foreseeable future! The Cold Snap returns to our regular rotation of conditions from February 10 ❄️."
This marks a quick turnaround for Cold Snap, which debuted as a limited-time holiday event in December 2025 alongside the Flickering Flames project. It wrapped up on January 13, 2026, with the snow thawing and temperatures rising on the Calabretta map. Player demand appears to have prompted its revival as a staple alongside other conditions like Harvester, Hidden Bunker, and Electromagnetic Storm.
The return kicks off at the weekly reset: 12am PT / 3am ET / 8am UTC. It won't be active on every drop but will cycle through based on the schedule, affecting maps like Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, Spaceport, and The Blue Gate (excluding Stella Montis).
What is Cold Snap?
Cold Snap transforms Topside into a frozen hellscape. A brutal cold front sweeps in, blanketing areas in snow and unleashing blizzards that slash visibility and make surfaces slippery. Prolonged exposure triggers frostbite, rapidly draining health unless Raiders seek shelter or heal.
Key features include:
- Core Temperature Mechanics: Watch for visual cues like frost on your clothes, heavy breathing, and freezing breath clouds. Cold damage ticks fast outdoors.
- Environmental Hazards: Slippery ice over frozen water, reduced visibility in storms, and heightened ARC aggression in the whiteout.
- Boosted Rewards: Trials multiplier jumps to 2x, map difficulties spike (e.g., Spaceport from 3/5 to 5/5), and exclusive loot like Candleberries returns. These red fruits on evergreen bushes yield high-value trades in Speranza, often near structures or stashes.
- Unique Items: More light-related loot (bulbs, candle holders) and potential blueprints like the Firework Box.
Dev Tips for Surviving the Freeze
Embark's team shared survival strategies:
- Stock bandages heavily - they're your lifeline against cold ticks.
- Catch fire to warm up quickly if bandages run low.
- Toss snowballs at alarmed cars for ARC distractions.
- Build stamina for longer sprints; hunt Candleberries with extra healing on hand.
- Indoor fights become king - open engagements are suicidal.
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