A major update for ARC Raiders is on the way, bringing with it a new optional (and somewhat controversial) ‘wipe’ system and a bunch of other new content for players to get to grips with. Dubbed the ‘Cold Snap’ update, it’s set to arrive just in time for the Christmas season.

The Cold Snap update arrives as the game goes from strength to strength, consistently holding position in the Steam charts and pulling in well over 130,000 players on a daily basis. With players starting to come across some of the highest-level loot in the game, it’s about time that developer Embark introduces a system that levels the playing field a little – which is where Expeditions come in.

Below, I’ll explain exactly what to expect from the ARC Raiders Cold Snap update, including when it’s meant to hit the servers.

When does the Cold Snap update arrive for ARC Raiders?

Embark hasn’t given a specific release date for the Cold Snap update just yet, but it has given us a rough window. We know that the window to sign up for Expeditions runs from December 17 to 22, so we can likely expect the winter update to arrive around the same time.

What new content will the Cold Snap bring?

The studio behind ARC Raiders has been a little vague on what players can expect in the Cold Snap update, but it did give a few brief ideas in a recent roadmap. It lists:

• Snowfall Map Condition

• Flickering Flames Event

• Expedition Departure Window

• New Raider Deck

• New Quests

A few of the above are pretty easy to decipher. For example, it’s highly likely that the Snowfall Map Condition refers to a new variant of weather for several maps, bringing a wintery feel to the game just in time for Christmas.

The Flickering Flames Event will likely be part of the live service, tying in seasonal quests and rewards as something for players to work towards in the short-term. The new Raider Deck will also largely come into play there, too.

The big addition in the Cold Snap update is Expeditions, which deserve their own explanation entirely.

Expeditions in ARC Raiders explained

Expeditions are Embark’s answer to ‘wipes’, which feature in other extraction games of the same ilk.

Take Escape from Tarkov, for example. Every six months or so, every player has their inventory and character progression wiped, resetting everyone back to the same starting point.

This serves to keep the game fair, stopping high-level players from hoarding all the best gear. It also provides a new opportunity to restart the grind again, given the progression is such a huge part of the gameplay loop for this genre.

However, ARC Raiders adopts a slightly more casual approach to gameplay to appeal to a wider audience. According to Embark, mandatory wipes are too disrespectful of players’ time, so it’s opted for an optional wipe system instead.

Players who feel like they’ve reached a high enough level can volunteer their character to set out on an ‘Expedition’ between the dates of December 17 and 22. Their character will then be sent on their way, wiping their progress from the server and letting players start again almost from scratch.

I say almost because there are some permanent rewards for sending a character on an Expedition. In return, players will receive:

• The Patchwork Raider outfit

• Scrappy Janitor Cap

• Expeditions Indicator icon

• Skill points (one for each million Coins, up to a maximum of five)

• +12 Stash space

Temporary buffs will also be applied to your account, although these will expire if you don’t send another character on the next Expedition, which is likely to be towards the end of February if Embark sticks with a similar timeline. Those temporary buffs include:

• 10% repair buff

• 5% xp boost

• 6% more materials from Scrappy

It’s worth noting that characters will need to be at least Level 20, so you can’t just create a new character and send them off on their way to farm the bonuses for free – there has to be some element of sacrifice.

We’ll update readers with more information when Embark releases more details on what’s coming in the Cold Snap update for ARC Raiders.