ARC Raiders is Bringing Back a Beloved Feature on February…

Embark Studios has revealed that the Cold Snap map modifier will come back to ARC Raiders on February 10, though some details about the change remain under wraps. ARC Raiders features several modifiers, known in-game as conditions, that affect loot and certain gameplay elements. But Cold Snap has always stood apart, as it completely transforms the Rustbelt with freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall.

One of the features that made Cold Snap a fan favorite among hardcore players was the introduction of frostbite. Exploring open areas during the snowy conditions caused characters to slowly freeze, steadily chipping away at their HP. This raised the stakes and turned exploration into a more tactical part of the gameplay loop, something many fans of the extraction shooter genre appreciated. The good news is that players will soon be able to face those same punishing conditions again when Cold Snap makes its return.

ARC Raiders Increases Map Event Frequency Following Player Backlash

ARC Raiders developer Embark Studios addresses player backlash and increases the frequency of the shooter's newest map event.

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By Kyle Knight

ARC Raiders' Cold Snap Re-release Date Revealed

Embark Studios shared the news on X, confirming that ARC Raiders' Cold Snap condition will return to the regular map rotation on February 10. The modifier was introduced with the December 2025 1.7.0 update, bringing snowy weather to the game. At the time, Cold Snap was framed as a limited-time event and wrapped up in January 2026.

Some fans believe the signs were already there for the condition's return. They point to ARC Raiders' latest roadmap, which stated, "The Cold Snap has passed, but its danger casts a long shadow." The roadmap also teased that "Extreme weather will continue to test Raiders as they scavenge the surface for the resources that keep Speranza running."

While a few players have questioned why the condition was removed in the first place, most of the community seems glad to see it re-added. One Reddit user summed up the general mood, saying, "I think the more map conditions the better," a sentiment many others echoed.

It remains unclear whether Cold Snap will be a permanent map condition and if it will still include its unique collectibles, Candleberries.

The Upcoming February Update Is Still Expected to Add a New Condition

After the news of Cold Snap's re-release, some fans voiced concerns that it might be the teased map condition mentioned in the Escalation roadmap. For those unfamiliar, Embark Studios has already confirmed that a brand-new modifier is coming with February's Shrouded Sky update. This led to worries that the developer could be bringing back Cold Snap in place of the promised new addition.

That said, it is worth noting that the Shrouded Sky update has not yet launched. Cold Snap's homecoming appears to be a simple OTA change meant to expand ARC Raiders' existing pool of map conditions rather than introduce something new. It also seems unlikely that Embark Studios would repackage an old mode and present it as a new feature.

Fans Keep Speculating About the Next Major Map Condition

With Cold Snap confirmed as a returning condition, an old question has resurfaced: what is the next major map modifier going to be? In the past, dataminers uncovered files referencing a condition called Toxic Swamps. This modifier was expected to arrive with ARC Raiders' January update to fill the gap left by Cold Snap, but that never happened. So far, Embark Studios has not officially acknowledged the existence of Toxic Swamps.

Beyond that theory, some fans are also hoping for a volcano-themed modifier in the future. This speculation largely comes from ARC Raiders' world map, which appears to feature an inaccessible volcanic zone. Whether any of these ideas will ever materialize remains to be seen. For now, what is certain is that players eager for more varied map conditions can jump back into Cold Snap and experience the harsh, wintry weather once again starting on February 10.

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