ARC Raiders Cold Snap patch notes drop new Snowfall map condition and The Finals crossover, skill tree reset finally arrives

ARC Raiders Cold Snap patch notes have officially arrived with massive changes rolling out December 16, 2025. Embark Studios is bringing a frigid new Snowfall map condition, skill tree reset functionality, and The Finals crossover to the extraction shooter. Winter has hit the Rust Belt with survival mechanics that will change how you play.

What’s The New Snowfall Map Condition?

The Cold Snap update introduces the headline feature: a frozen Snowfall map condition that transforms familiar territory. When active, this condition blankets maps in snow while reducing visibility, leaving player footprints, and introducing the Frostbite survival mechanic that will force tactical adjustments. Raiders now contend with environmental threats alongside mechanical enemies, fundamentally changing encounter dynamics across all four affected maps.

The Snowfall condition appears on Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, Spaceport, and Blue Gate. Different encounter layouts and strategic positioning become crucial under these freezing conditions. Environmental storytelling enhances immersion as frozen valleys and cracked ice create a post-apocalyptic wasteland atmosphere that hasn’t been seen in previous updates.

Skill Tree Reset Functionality Now Available — Here’s What Changed

Feature	Details
Reset Cost	2,000 Coins per skill point
Full Tree Reset	Approximately 152,000 Coins for complete reset
Community Reception	Positive—removes dependency on Expedition for respecing
Access Method	Available anytime through profile/Raiders tab

The skill tree reset functionality represents a major quality-of-life improvement. Previously, players had to complete an Expedition cycle to reset their abilities, which locked them into progression resets. Now Coins provide flexibility, allowing mid-season adjustments without needing to trigger the seasonal wipe mechanics. This change democratizes build experimentation for all player types.

Effortless Roll and Calming Stroll skill trees received tweaks alongside the reset feature. Players report increased control over their raider specialization, making decision-making more intentional heading into the competitive season.

The Finals Crossover Brings Free Exclusive Content

Embark’s sister game The Finals is crossing over with ARC Raiders starting December 16, 2025. Players who complete just 3 matches in any mode on The Finals unlock an exclusive Red Ryder outfit in ARC Raiders. The integration leverages both game’s communities, creating incentive to experience both extraction shooters within the same ecosystem.

The crossover reinforces Embark Studios’ interconnected universe concept. Players should ensure they’re logged in with the same Embark ID across both titles to claim the cosmetic reward. This marks the first official collaboration between the two games, setting potential precedent for future crossover opportunities.

Massive Patch Also Includes Weapon Balancing and Enemy Improvements

Beyond the major features, the 1.7.0 patch delivers comprehensive weapon balance changes. The Bettina assault rifle received substantial durability improvements, reducing burn rate from 0.43% to 0.17% per shot. Magazine size increased to 22, and reload time dropped to 4.5 seconds, making the weapon more competitive in PvP encounters without dominating the meta.

The Shredder enemy got behavioral improvements to prevent getting stuck on terrain and adjusted knockback mechanics. Health on the Shredder’s destructible head increased to prevent unintended detachment. These enemy refinements improve fight predictability while maintaining mechanical threat profiles raiders expect across all map conditions.

The update also enables Epic Store achievements, resolves hundreds of collision issues, improves UI/UX across menus, and patches exploits involving weapon reload mechanics and tactical abilities. Quality-of-life improvements touch everything from tooltip accuracy to voice chat functionality.

Will These Changes Impact The Expedition Window Opening December 17?

The Expedition Departure Window launches December 17 and runs through December 22, giving players just days to decide whether to reset their progression for seasonal rewards. The skill tree reset functionality adds strategy—players can experiment with builds using Coins before committing to the permanent Expedition wipe. This timing creates interesting strategic depth where early testers can optimize builds before major progression resets.

Developers explicitly noted that existing accumulated Cred won’t be removed, but future accumulation has a soft cap at 800. The Expedition Project now displays resource tracking, required amounts, and goal progress on raider project screens, making the seasonal commitment more transparent. Whether you’re testing new skill combinations via reset or preparing for the wipe window, the Cold Snap update gives you tools for informed decisions.

“Winter hits the Rust Belt. Raiders topside battle on as they shiver and stumble and swear.”

— Ossen, ARC Raiders Development Team

Sources

• ARC Raiders Official – Comprehensive patch notes and feature details from developer
• Forbes Gaming – In-depth breakdown of Cold Snap 1.7.0 patch notes and crossover mechanics
• IGN – Update release information and gameplay impact analysis