Автор: Online Games VIP Editorial
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Arc Raiders has reached a seven-month Steam player high after the Frozen Trail update added a new map, traversal tools, threats, and a free weekend.
Arc Raiders has reached a seven-month high for concurrent players on Steam following the launch of its Frozen Trail update, according to IGN. The update arrived on October 8 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, bringing a new map, new Arc enemies, additional equipment, and a free weekend.
IGN reports that 166,670 people were playing Arc Raiders on Steam at the time of its article, a level the game had not reached on PC since early April. The spike gives the extraction shooter its clearest return of attention in months, although IGN notes that it is too early to determine whether the increase will become a lasting recovery.
IGN identifies Pendola Pass as the central addition in Frozen Trail. It is a snowy, mountainous region beyond the Rust Belt, the setting associated with the game's regular activity. The new area includes buildings and other locations to explore and loot, giving returning players a fresh environment rather than only another set of smaller adjustments.
IGN also reports that the update adds three Arc threats named the Bully, Skulker, and Hydra. The publisher's reporting does not provide detailed behavior breakdowns or difficulty values for these enemies, but their inclusion changes the list of encounters players can face while moving through the updated game world.
The update adds the Tether Launcher and Grappling Hook as new tools. According to IGN, the Tether Launcher can tie enemies to objects, while the Grappling Hook can attach to steep cliffs and flying Arc. These are confirmed gameplay functions, but the available source does not specify the tools' exact range, cooldowns, damage interactions, or progression requirements.
IGN also highlights the new Frigate, described as a large UFO-style Arc ship. The source presents the ship as a notable feature of the update, though it does not confirm how frequently it appears, how players encounter it, or what rewards are connected to it. Those details remain important for PC players deciding how much of the new content they can realistically see during a session.
Another addition is the Advanced Camera. IGN describes it as a tool for capturing in-game moments with the click of a button. That feature fits an extraction game where unexpected encounters and physics-driven situations can become shareable clips, but the source does not establish whether camera captures use a particular file format, where they are stored, or whether PC users receive extra capture options.
The current player figure represents a sharp change from Arc Raiders' recent Steam pattern. IGN reports that the game reached an all-time peak of nearly 500,000 players on Steam, using SteamDB as its source, but then struggled to exceed 35,000 players on PC from July onward. IGN also reports a low of 10,000 Steam players in September.
That history gives the Frozen Trail spike useful context. A large concurrent-player increase can make an online extraction game feel more active because more people are available to form the surrounding match population. That is analysis rather than a confirmed result from the source, however. Neither IGN's report nor the supplied record provides queue times, matchmaking data, regional population details, server performance measurements, or a breakdown between new and returning players.
For PC, Steam is the clearest public indicator available in this report. It shows activity on the platform, not the full player population across PC storefronts and consoles. The update is also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, according to IGN, so the Steam figure should not be treated as a total for every platform.
There is also no confirmed technical comparison between the PC version and the console versions in the supplied coverage. IGN confirms the platforms that received Frozen Trail, but does not report resolution targets, frame-rate targets, graphics options, storage requirements, input support, or changes to PC-specific performance. Players should therefore verify those details through the game's current store listing and official system information before installing or returning.
The free weekend is another major part of the PC story. IGN reports that it runs from October 8 through October 12 and gives newcomers an opportunity to try the changed version of Arc Raiders. The source does not specify the exact start and end times, whether progress carries into a purchase, or whether any platform-specific restrictions apply. Those are details PC players should confirm before planning a download around the promotion.
Frozen Trail's appeal appears to come from the combination of additions rather than one isolated feature. IGN's reporting describes the map, threats, weapons, skills, weapon modifications, traversal tools, and camera as parts of a broader package. That helps explain why the update has generated renewed interest among players who had stopped playing, although the source does not establish how many of the returning users remain active after the free weekend ends.
The Grappling Hook is the most visible part of that package. IGN reports that players have compared its movement to swinging like Spider-Man, with uses that include reaching cliffs and attaching to airborne Arc. From a player-focused perspective, a traversal item can affect more than movement speed. It may change how players escape danger, approach elevated areas, reposition during combat, or reach parts of the map that previously required a different route.
Those possibilities are analysis, not confirmed balance outcomes. The available reporting does not say whether the Grappling Hook can be used in every encounter, whether it consumes a resource, or whether its mobility is limited by terrain or equipment slots. PC players evaluating the update should pay attention to how the tool fits into normal loadouts and whether its usefulness changes across Pendola Pass and older locations.
The Tether Launcher points to a different kind of experimentation. IGN confirms that it can tie enemies to objects against their will. That could create opportunities for crowd control or improvised encounters, but the source does not confirm how long a tether lasts, which enemies can be affected, or how opponents respond. Those missing details matter because the difference between a reliable tool and a situational one will only become clear through official documentation or broader player testing.
The Advanced Camera may also reinforce the game's social and clip-friendly side. IGN reports that new footage and screenshots have begun appearing on social media after the update, including examples involving the Grappling Hook, the Frigate, and the camera. This is evidence of renewed community activity, not proof that the update has restored the game's previous popularity or created a permanent content ecosystem.
Arc Raiders is having a notable moment on Steam, but one weekend's activity cannot confirm a durable second wind. IGN states that the current result is too early to judge and notes that the game has not recorded a comparable spike since December 2025. The report also places the new total below the game's earlier peak of nearly 500,000 Steam players.
The source describes Embark as having slowed updates and promised a rework of the divisive Expedition prestige system before Frozen Trail arrived. It also says that Frozen Trail is the first substantial update since Riven Tides in April. However, the supplied reporting does not explain what the Expedition rework will change or when players should expect it. That makes the update cadence an important issue to watch after the free weekend concludes.
IGN reports that testing for a dedicated PvE mode is next. The source does not provide a test date, launch date, ruleset, progression model, matchmaking structure, or confirmation that the mode will become a permanent feature. Players interested in a less competitive way to experience Arc Raiders should treat the PvE plan as an upcoming area of testing rather than an announced release feature.
Long-term momentum will also depend on whether the new content keeps attracting players after the promotional period. The available record does not include retention figures, sales data, platform-by-platform counts, or later Steam peaks. It also does not confirm whether the reported Steam figure was a global concurrent peak or a point-in-time count during the article's publication window beyond describing it as the number logged on at that moment.
PC players considering a return should first verify the free weekend's current availability, download requirements, and any restrictions through the relevant storefront. IGN confirms the October 8 to October 12 window, but the supplied source does not list exact hours or technical requirements.
It is also worth checking whether the Grappling Hook, Tether Launcher, new enemies, and Pendola Pass are available immediately to all players or tied to specific progression. IGN confirms their inclusion in Frozen Trail but does not describe unlock conditions. The same applies to the Advanced Camera and the Frigate, whose practical role and frequency are not detailed in the report.
Finally, players should watch Steam activity after the free weekend, alongside any official information about the Expedition rework and dedicated PvE testing. A sustained population would be more meaningful for the PC ecosystem than a single promotional spike. For now, IGN's report supports a narrower conclusion: Frozen Trail has brought a substantial burst of attention to Arc Raiders on Steam, while the evidence needed to call it a lasting comeback has not arrived yet.