ARC Raiders Surges as Frozen Trail Adds Grappling Hook

ARC Raiders has recorded a major Steam revival following the launch of Frozen Trail, an expansive update led by a new Grappling Hook traversal tool. The shooter reached a 24-hour peak of 185,443 concurrent Steam players after the update, giving Embark Studios its strongest player-count result since March and showing that a substantial content drop can quickly bring former Raiders back Topside.

What happened: Frozen Trail drove a sharp Steam rebound

Frozen Trail launched on October 8 and pushed ARC Raiders far beyond its September high of 39,900 concurrent Steam players. Its new 24-hour peak of 185,443 is roughly 4.6 times that September result. The game had previously exploded after its October 2025 release, eventually reaching an all-time Steam peak of 481,966 concurrent players in January. Its audience later settled into a smaller but still active base, with September averaging about 21,000 players. The latest surge does not return ARC Raiders to its launch-era high, but it is clear evidence that interest remains strong when Embark gives lapsed players a meaningful reason to return.

Why it matters: movement is the update's standout attraction

The Grappling Hook has emerged as Frozen Trail's most visible feature. It lets players cross gaps, gain elevation and approach advantageous positions in ways that have drawn obvious comparisons to Spider-Man-style swinging. Players have been experimenting with routes around Cargo Dock, using the tool to move over patrolling ARC enemies and reach areas that were previously less accessible. That kind of movement option can change more than traversal in a PvPvE extraction shooter: it can reshape scouting, ambushes, escapes and the value of high ground. Frozen Trail also adds the snowy Pendola Pass map, new ARC enemies, weapons, an Outpost, a Research Bench, 22 quests, a reworked Skill Tree, a Reward Pass system and additional tools.

What to watch next: the free access period and retention test

The player spike has an important qualifier. ARC Raiders is available as a full free experience on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S through October 12, meaning the update and free-access window are both contributing to the current momentum. The crucial measure will come after that period ends. Embark has moved away from its earlier plan for monthly major updates, saying that schedule did not leave enough room for substantial changes. The studio now intends to deliver major updates twice a year, with Frozen Trail setting the early standard for that approach. Its challenge is to retain returning players with progression and repeatable goals until the next large release.

Key takeaways for ARC Raiders players

• Frozen Trail's Grappling Hook is the update's defining new gameplay tool, adding faster and more flexible vertical movement.
• The update adds Pendola Pass, new enemies, weapons, quests and progression-related systems alongside the traversal feature.
• Steam concurrency reached 185,443 after the update, the game's best showing since March.
• Players should treat the current spike carefully, as free full-game access is also available through October 12.
• The long-term question is whether Frozen Trail can hold interest until Embark's next twice-yearly major update.

ARC Raiders Steam player-count comparison

Expert View

Frozen Trail is a strong argument for fewer, larger updates when the content meaningfully changes how a multiplayer game feels. The Grappling Hook gives ARC Raiders an immediate, watchable gameplay hook, while the broader progression and map additions provide the substance needed to convert curiosity into playtime. Embark has won back attention; retaining it after free access ends is the real verdict on this new update model.