Frozen Trail went live on October 8, 2026, and Embark Studios calls it the largest update since ARC Raiders launched. What the available reporting does not show is a verified post-update player surge, or any figure that proves players are back at levels not seen in months. A community post claiming more than 100,000 Steam players after the patch is unconfirmed, and no dated official number backs it up.
What Frozen Trail adds
Frozen Trail is built around a new, largest-in-game map and a major ARC operation with new enemies and behaviors. The specifics below come from GamesRadar+’s October 2, 2026 preview, not from patch notes, so check Embark’s official patch notes for final names, numbers and balance values.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
New map and enemies
- Pendola Pass: the new map named in the preview.
- New ARC enemies: Frigate, Bully, Skulker and Hydra.
Weapons, items and traversal
- New weapons: the Stiletto battle rifle and the Bantam revolver.
- Traversal items and weapon modification.
- Weapon transmog, which lets you change how a weapon looks.
- Instruments and cosmetics, which Embark’s preview also lists.
Progression and bases
- Progression goals and an improved skill tree.
- Customizable bases, quests and trials.
- A free battle pass and a premium battle pass.
Why the update schedule changed
On May 13, 2026, Embark announced that major updates would move from a monthly cadence to twice a year. Routine live operations continue: balance changes, bug fixes, store updates and player events all keep their regular schedule. Embark said the slower rhythm would allow more transformative releases and more time on progression, economy balance, fair play and anti-cheat work.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →In that announcement, executive producer Aleksander Grøndal explained the reasoning: “Over time, we’ve found that the pressure of a monthly cycle limits how impactful these updates can be.” Frozen Trail was positioned as the first big release under the new rhythm and was planned for October.
#1 Best Overall
The player-count trade-off Embark expected
Embark expected the longer gap between major updates to reduce concurrent and daily players. In a GamesRadar+ interview published October 7, 2026, Grøndal said the studio accepted that decline when it changed the cadence. He said the hope was to bring players back with bigger content:
“At the same time, when we did the change of the update cadence, we also accepted the fact that we would have less players over a period of time, with the hope that we could reengage those players with more interesting pieces of content like Frozen Trail.”
Rank #2
- MLB The Show 26 Full Game on PlayStation 5
- Includes 5 The Show Packs
- NEW Road to Cooperstown & Expanded Amateur Years Career
- Build your ultimate fantasy team with a new Red Diamond rarity tier and World Baseball Classic player cards featuring elite game-changing players
- NEW Revamped Front Office Experience Play the nail-biting key matches and moments of your Franchise GM career with streamlined seasons and Custom Game Entry
That framing matters for reading any post-launch number. Embark did not promise a surge. It described Frozen Trail as the test of whether a larger, less frequent release could win back players who had drifted away.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
What the player numbers show, and what they don’t
Only one large, sourced player figure is public, and it predates this update by months. Nexon’s January 13, 2026 announcement reported more than 12.4 million units sold and 960,000 concurrent players in January 2026, ten weeks after launch. That is historical context, not an October metric.
Rank #3
- Only at Amazon Limited Edition Content - The Rogue Infiltrator Character Pack includes cosmetics for Kay and Nix.
- Discover a galaxy of opportunity. Explore distinct locations with bustling cities and cantinas. Race across sprawling outdoor landscapes on your speeder. Each location brings new adventures, unique challenges, and enticing rewards if you’re willing to take the risk.
- Experience an original scoundrel story. Live the high-stakes lifestyle of an outlaw. Turn any situation to your advantage with Nix by your side: fight with your blaster, overcome enemies with stealth and gadgets, or find the right moments to distract enemies and gain the upper hand.
- Embark on high-stakes missions. Take on high-risk, high-reward missions from the galaxy’s crime syndicates. Steal valuable goods, infiltrate secret locations, and outwit enemies as one of the galaxy’s most wanted. Every choice you make influences your ever-changing reputation.
- Jump into the pilot seat. Pilot your ship, the Trailblazer, as you engage in thrilling dogfights with the Empire and other foes. Find the right opportunities to chase, evade, and attack to get the upper hand.
| Metric | Figure | Source and date | Scope and limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Units sold | More than 12.4 million | Nexon, January 13, 2026 | Cumulative sales as stated at that date; not a player count |
| Concurrent players | 960,000 | Nexon, January 13, 2026 | January 2026, ten weeks after launch; not an October figure |
| Post-Frozen Trail Steam concurrent peak | Not stated | No dated official source found | Would need a timestamped Steam concurrent chart |
| Community claim of 100,000+ Steam players | Unverified | Community post after the October 8 patch | Unconfirmed; no chart, window or method attached |
| All-platform player count after update | Not stated | No official source found | Covers PC and consoles; no total published |
Why Steam numbers aren’t a total
ARC Raiders is on Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and GeForce NOW, according to the game’s official site. A Steam concurrency figure covers only Steam. It says nothing about console players, Epic players or cloud play, and it is not a daily or unique player count.
How to check a player figure yourself
- Open a Steam concurrent-user chart that shows timestamps, and note the exact measurement window.
- Compare the same metric on the same platform: Steam peak concurrent against Steam peak concurrent, not against daily active users or sales.
- Use windows of similar length, for example the same number of days before and after October 8, 2026.
- Label any figure as “Steam concurrent users” with its date range. Do not extend it to consoles or all players.
- Check whether an official Embark or Nexon statement gives the number before accepting a secondhand claim.
How to read the update claim
The launch itself is confirmed: Frozen Trail went live October 8, 2026, and it is the largest update Embark has shipped. The cadence change is confirmed too, as is the studio’s stated expectation of fewer players during the longer gap. Whether Frozen Trail actually reversed that decline is not yet shown by a dated, platform-specific number from an official source. Until one appears, a headline about players “surging to numbers not seen in months” goes beyond what has been published.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to play and what the game is
Steam describes ARC Raiders as a multiplayer extraction game. Players scavenge, craft, repair and upgrade gear in an in-game workshop, and they can play solo or in parties of up to three. The game is available on the platforms listed above; store prices and free-play or discount offers change often, so check the store page directly before buying.
Quick Recap
Best Value
![Assassin's Creed Shadows [PlayStation 5]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51cgBmgsqGL._SL160_.jpg)
- Experience an epic, historical action adventure in feudal Japan and become a deadly Shinobi assassin and a powerful legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open game world in chaotic times
- Sneak as a Naoe to not be discovered, use your agility to confuse your opponents and stretch down your opponents with deadly precision and power as a Yasuke
- Use information as weapons and build your own spy network to have eyes and ears everywhere and find your targets easier and recruit new allies on the go with unique skills to help you with your missions
- Create a fully customizable hideaway for your growing Shinobi league, where you train recruits, craft new equipment and interact with important characters; set the room layout, decoration and accessories yourself
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
