Arc Raiders has received its Frozen Trail update, a substantial patch that landed October 8, 2026 with no maintenance period required. Players can download and install directly from Steam or their console's store. The patch covers significant ground: a complete skill tree rework, new Weapon Stencils for customisation, an Outpost with a research bench, a Feats overhaul, and numerous bug fixes alongside fresh content.
The Skill Tree Overhaul
The skill tree has been rebuilt from the ground up, which is the kind of change that reshapes how players approach the game. This overhaul represents foundational changes that will ripple through character builds and existing strategies over time. The patch notes confirm the rework is comprehensive, affecting how players invest their progression points and develop their raiders across multiple playstyles.
Weapon Stencils Arrive
Weapon customisation gets a new layer with Stencils, which let players alter the visual appearance of their weapons. The system works similarly to blueprints in other games: once a Stencil is learned, it can be applied to compatible weapons repeatedly. Cosmetic customisation matters to long-term player engagement, and this update delivers a structured way to personalise loadouts beyond performance upgrades.
New Outpost and Research Bench
The Outpost addition brings a research bench to the base of operations. This provides a dedicated station for exploring the new crafting and customisation systems, centralising progression tools in one location. The Feats rework similarly represents foundational changes that will influence how players approach challenges and unlock rewards over time.
Sizing Things Up Quest Walkthrough
For players struggling with the Sizing Things Up quest, the objectives centre on documenting and scavenging a massive robot called the Emperor. The first step requires photographing the Emperor's leg from the bridge directly east of Old Town. The second, optional step involves analysing an exposed area on top of the leg near Railroad Junction. The final objective asks players to reach the base of the Emperor near Piazza Della Rupe and collect the Arc Conductive Coupler from a chest labelled the Buried Harvester Payload. Extracting with the item completes the quest for Celeste.
Who Should Care
| Player Type | Relevance |
|---|---|
| Build optimisers | High – skill tree changes may shift meta strategies |
| Cosmetic collectors | Medium – Stencils add personalisation options |
| Story-focused players | Low – Sizing Things Up is optional side content |
| Casual explorers | Medium – Outpost centralises progression tools |
Why It Matters
This patch signals that Arc Raiders is in active development with a clear vision for progression depth. The skill tree rework alone represents a fundamental shift in how players develop their characters, and the changes will likely invalidate previous builds and tier lists over time. For survival-focused players, the new crafting and research systems offer more tools to stay in the field longer without returning to base. The addition of cosmetic customisation through Stencils addresses a common request for ways to personalise loadouts beyond raw performance, which can improve long-term engagement even when it doesn't affect combat effectiveness.
Key takeaways
- Frozen Trail is a no-maintenance update available now on all platforms
- Complete skill tree rework affects all character builds
- Weapon Stencils add cosmetic customisation alongside performance upgrades
- New Outpost research bench centralises progression tools
- Feats rework represents foundational changes to character development
Frequently asked questions
When did the Arc Raiders Frozen Trail update release?
October 8, 2026, with no maintenance period required.
What major changes come with the skill tree rework?
The patch notes confirm a complete revamp of the skill tree, representing foundational changes to how players develop their characters.
How do Weapon Stencils work?
Once learned, Stencils can be applied to compatible weapons to change their visual appearance, similar to how blueprints function in other games.
Where is the Arc Conductive Coupler in Sizing Things Up?
It's in a chest at the base of the Emperor near Piazza Della Rupe, labelled the Buried Harvester Payload.