Embark Studios drove Arc Raiders to a seven-month high on Steam, peaking at 131,388 concurrent PC players on October 8, 2026. The surge follows the major version 2.0 Frozen Trail update across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, paired with a free weekend running through October 12.
Frozen Trail 2.0 Update Introduces Pendola Pass and Spider-Man Mechanics
The Frozen Trail update brings substantial changes to the extraction shooter, highlighted by a new snowy mountainous region called Pendola Pass located beyond the Rust Belt. Players exploring the new map encounter fresh ARC threats including the Bully, Skulker, and Hydra, alongside new tools such as a lower-rarity Grappling Hook and a Tether Launcher.
The grappling hook requires manual aiming and climbing or descending along the rope, allowing players to swing between rooftops and attach to flying ARC or steep cliffs. The update also adds the Bantam and Stiletto weapons, weapon stencils, 22 new quests, and Dynamic Loot Zones on Pendola Pass that alter location values between matches. New Outpost can be unlocked by completing a project. Applying Stencils requires Stencil Parts, which can be found Topside. Existing Raider Decks haven’t disappeared and are instead available through the Legacy Pass. Rather than functioning as a mod anymore, the Anvil Splitter has been transitioned into an enhanced upgrade alternative for the Amplified Anvil.
Other additions include The Outpost, which can be expanded with modules and a research station using 100 craftable furniture designs.
Steam Player Counts Surge Past Concurrent Users
The combined release of Frozen Trail and a free weekend running from October 8 to October 12 reversed that trend immediately.
The spike marks the highest player count Embark Studios has recorded on PC since April 2026, though matchmaking adjustments also saw the removal of the Solo vs. Squads mode to encourage use of other settings.
Skill Tree Redesign Forces Strategic Choices for PvE and PvP Builds
Embark Studios rebuilt the skill tree from the ground up in version 2.0, introducing 16 new abilities while removing 13 old ones. The three core branches—Conditioning, Mobility, and Survival—now incorporate mandatory choice nodes at 10 points and capstone options at 30 and 40 points. PvE enthusiasts must now weigh Security Breach and Road Warrior against Mule’s Gallop and crawl abilities within a restricted budget, whereas combat-focused PvP participants must select between Sprinting on Fumes, Wall Run, and Bull Rush instead of acquiring every mobility enhancement, and multi-role Raiders are forced to pick their two defining capstones early on.
With a maximum level cap of 76 points and a ceiling of 91 after three Expeditions, players cannot unlock every node, making careful path planning essential for hybrid PvPvE builds. Security Breach moved to the top of Conditioning, while Fight or Flight shifted to Mobility with a buffed stamina return. Stylish Landing lets you recovery roll from greater heights, a good partner for the grapple hook. Because self-revive items are available, abilities like Downed but Determined and Crawl Before You Walk—which roughly double the distance you can crawl while incapacitated—remain valuable even during solo sessions. This peak surpasses the figures recorded since April 2026.
