ARC Raiders is bringing back the cold snap, here's when

Embark Studios has revealed that the Cold Snap map modifier is returning to ARC Raiders on February 10, although some details of the change remain under wraps. ARC Raiders has 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 Rust Belt with freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall.

One of the features that made Cold Snap a favorite among hardcore gamers was the introduction of frost damage. Exploring open areas in the snowy conditions caused characters to slowly freeze and steadily chip away at their HP. This raised the stakes and made exploration 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 the same punishing conditions again when Cold Snap makes its return.

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ARC Raiders increases the frequency of map events after the player's setback

ARC Raiders developer Embark Studios is addressing player backlash and increasing the frequency of the shooter's latest map event.

ARC Raiders Cold Snap re-release date revealed

Embark Studios shared the news on X and confirmed it ARC Raiders' The Cold Snap state will return to the regular map rotation on February 10th. The mod was introduced with the December 2025 1.7.0 update, which brings snow weather to the game. At the time, Cold Snap was framed as a limited-time event, ending in January 2026.

Some fans believe the signs were already there for the condition to return. They point to ARC Raiders' latest roadmap, which read: “The Cold Snap has passed, but its danger casts a long shadow.” The roadmap also teased that “Extreme weather will continue to test the Raiders as they scour 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 happy to see it added back. One Reddit user summed up the general sentiment, saying, “I think the more map conditions the better,” a sentiment echoed by many others.

It is still unclear if Cold Snap will be a permanent map state and if it will still include its unique collectible, Candleberries.

The upcoming February update is still expected to add a new condition

Following the news of Cold Snap's re-release, some fans expressed concern that it could be the teased map state mentioned in the Escalation roadmap. For those unaware, Embark Studios has already confirmed that a brand new modifier is coming with February's Shrouded Sky update. This led to concerns that the developer might bring back Cold Snap instead of the promised new addition.

That said, it's worth noting that the Shrouded Sky update has yet to roll out. Cold Snap's return appears to be a simple OTA change meant to expand ARC Raiders' existing pool of map conditions rather than introducing something new. It also seems unlikely that Embark Studios would repackage an old mode and present it as a new feature.

Fans continue to speculate about the next major map state

With Cold Snap confirmed as a recurring condition, an old question has resurfaced: what will the next big map modifier be? Previously, data miners uncovered files that referred to a condition known as Toxic Swamps. This modifier was expected to come along ARC Raiders' Update for January to fill the gap after Cold Snap, but it never happened. Until now, Embark Studios has not officially acknowledged the existence of Toxic Swamps.

In addition to that theory, some fans are also hoping for a volcano-themed modifier in the future. This speculation comes largely from ARC Raiders' world map, which appears to contain an inaccessible volcanic zone. Whether any of these ideas will ever come to fruition remains to be seen. For now, it's safe to say that players who crave more varied map conditions can jump back into Cold Snap and experience the harsh, wintry weather again starting February 10th.