Embark Studios announced that Arc Raiders will be free to play on PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam from October 8 (at 9 AM UTC) to October 12, 2026 (8 AM UTC). The announcement, made early today via the game's official site and social media platforms, seems to be part of its first anniversary celebration.
Releasing on the same day, those diving in during the free period will also be able to experience the game's new Frozen Trail Update from the get-go if paired with comrades who already unlocked its new map.
Frozen Trail will be Arc Raiders' first major 2026 update since its change in content approach. Marketed as its biggest to date, it will bring a whole new map to fans in the shape of the snow-filled Pendola Pass, paired with new enemies, new weapons, and a new Reward Pass system. The Pass will be divided into two tiers: Free and Premium, with its rewards being unlocked via in-game feats.
An Amplified Weapons system will also be introduced, allowing players to further upgrade favorites via a fifth quality level, capable of turning them into completely new threats. Here's a quick overview of the main features/changes coming with the update on October 8, 2026:
Together with the update, the free period pinpoints what, for many, might be Arc Raiders' last chance to rekindle the game's once unprecedented momentum, following a steep decline in players since early 2026. At the time of writing, Arc Raiders sits at a peak of around 30/40K players on Steam (via SteamDB), a far cry from the over 400K concurrent numbers reached in January 2026.
Community reactions to the announcement also seem to indicate that its success might not rely entirely on the quality of the new content, but on how effective Embark's anti-cheat will prove to be when faced with the new influx. Cheating has been a major problem for the game since release, with many fans citing it as the main reason as to why they decided to abandon it during its popularity peak.
Arc Raiders currently sits at a daily peak of around 30 to 40K players on Steam, a far cry from its over 400K early January 2026 numbers.
Players also seem to be disappointed that the free period won't be arriving simultaneously with the game's already announced PvE matchmaking toggle test, as the mode could be the perfect fit for those looking to dive in with inexperienced friends and explore at their leisure. The test will take place from October 13 to 20, 2026.
سەرچاوەی فەرمی بە زمانی ئینگلیزی: https://www.dualshockers.com/arc-raiders-will-be-free-to-play-soon/
