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ARC Raiders Cold Snap Update: Release Date, Snowfall Condition, and Quests Explained

Cold Snap launched on December 16, 2025, with the Snowfall map condition, seasonal events, and an optional Expedition reset. Stella Montis quests were announced as part of North Line, not confirmed Cold Snap content.
Length2 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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ARC Raiders’ Cold Snap update launched on December 16, 2025. It introduced the Snowfall map condition, where prolonged exposure outdoors could cause frostbite and falling snow reduced visibility. The update also brought seasonal events and announced a free Raider Deck for later that month. The “new Quests” wording needs a distinction: official announcements place Stella Montis quests in the preceding North Line update, not in the confirmed Cold Snap feature list.

When did the ARC Raiders Cold Snap update release?

Nexon announced that Cold Snap was implemented on December 16, 2025. The official ARC Raiders news index later listed Frozen Trail for October 8, 2026, so Cold Snap is a past update, not an upcoming release.

What did the Snowfall map condition change?

Snowfall made outdoor travel a risk-and-reward decision. Staying outside too long exposed Raiders to frostbite damage, while snowfall impaired visibility and made fights harder. Seeking shelter helped mitigate the cold risk; Embark reiterated that advice when the condition returned in February 2026.

At launch, Nexon also said Snowfall helped players collect Candleberries for the concurrent Candleberry Banquet and increased the chance of discovering light-themed materials such as candles and light bulbs. Those details were attached to the December event; they should not be assumed to apply to every later rotation.

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What events and content arrived with Cold Snap?

Flickering Flames

Flickering Flames was a progression event. Players earned Merit through XP conversion to unlock 25 reward tiers, which included gear, equipment, and Raider Tokens, according to Nexon’s December 16, 2025 announcement.

Candleberry Banquet

The Candleberry Banquet asked players to collect Candleberries and decorate a banquet table across five stages. Nexon listed equipment, Raider Tokens, and Merit among its rewards.

Goalie Raider Deck

Nexon said the free Goalie Raider Deck would appear on December 26, 2025. It featured hockey-themed cosmetics and other rewards unlocked with the in-game currency Cred.

Expedition Project

Cold Snap also introduced the optional Expedition Project progression reset. Participating reset a Raider’s level, skills, and inventory. Nexon described potential benefits based on stash value, including up to five skill points, 12 additional stash slots, and time-limited buffs. This was a separate progression system, not an effect of the Snowfall condition.

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Did Cold Snap add new quests?

The official announcements reviewed do not establish a new quest set as a Cold Snap feature or provide a Cold Snap quest count or names. Embark’s November 12, 2025 North Line announcement identifies new Stella Montis quests as part of North Line, then presents Cold Snap as the next December update. The safe distinction is that the Stella Montis quests belonged to North Line; they should not be attributed to Cold Snap without separate confirmation.

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When did Cold Snap return?

In its February 10, 2026 update notes, Embark said Cold Snap returned to the outdoor-map rotation. The return was associated with increased loot value for braving the cold, alongside the need to seek shelter against frostbite. The notes also mentioned collectible Candleberries and throwable snowballs. These are details of the February return, distinct from the launch-specific event and material-drop statements.

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Source: Embark Studios, February Update 1.15.0, February 10, 2026.

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