ARC Raiders Cold Snap Update Nerfs Security Breach With Dynamic Loot Changes

What to know

• The Cold Snap weather condition and Flickering Flames seasonal event launched live on December 16, 2025, bringing new quests, Raider Deck content, and snow survival mechanics.
• Security lockers, which previously had static, predictable locations, now spawn dynamically across maps, impacting loot routing and the utility of the Security Breach skill.
• Players can now respec skill trees for Coins (2,000 per skill point), allowing builds to adapt post-nerf without permanent penalty.
• Weapon adjustments, enemy tweaks, new UI options, collision fixes, and other polish mark one of the broadest patches in ARC Raiders’ lifecycle.

Embark Studios has released the Cold Snap update (Patch 1.7.0) for its PvPvE extraction shooter ARC Raiders, marking the final major patch for 2025. The update went live on December 16, 2025, and delivers a broad suite of new features, quality-of-life improvements, balance adjustments, and system changes designed to refresh mid-season gameplay and address community feedback.

New seasonal content and map mechanics

The centerpiece of the Cold Snap update is a new weather-driven Cold Snap map condition that blankets several zones in snow and ice. Raiders now contend with frostbite and visibility penalties when traveling outdoors, incentivizing strategic positioning and shelter usage. Alongside this comes the Flickering Flames limited event, offering a Merit-based reward progression track and winter-themed objectives. A free Raider Deck named “Goalie,” featuring themed cosmetics and tools, is slated to launch on December 26.

Embark Studios published the December Update 1.7.0 official patch notes on the ARC Raiders website, detailing content additions, balance changes, and fixes.

Nerf to Security Breach value

One of the most discussed changes in the patch involves how Security Lockers spawn in the world. Previously, these high-value loot containers appeared in fixed locations that players could reliably plan routes around, making the Security Breach capstone skill in the red tree a popular choice for dedicated runs. The Cold Snap update replaced static spawns with dynamic Security Locker positions, increasing randomness and undermining the guaranteed value of investing heavily in the associated skill.

This shift effectively nerfs the return on investment from Security Breach, as players can no longer count on encountering high-value lockers in every raid. Some community members have noted that this change alters established meta strategies for loot-focused builds.

Skill respec and build flexibility

Responding to the community impact, Embark included a new skill replay option in this update. Players can now reset their skill trees in exchange for in-game Coins priced at 2,000 per skill point invested, enabling them to pivot away from less effective builds without permanent loss. This respeccing feature provides flexibility for players adapting to the new loot ecosystem.

Balance Tweaks and Fixes

Patch 1.7.0 also implements multiple weapon balance changes - buffing aspects of the Bettina rifle and increasing the magazine size of the Rattler. Enemy behaviors and health distributions for ARCs like the Shredder have been rebalanced for more dynamic encounters. Across maps, collision, spawn logic, and geometry bugs have been addressed. New options like toggling Aim Down Sights and a Cred coin cap display improve usability.

Community context and technical issues

The Cold Snap rollout comes as ARC Raiders continues to refine its post-launch experience following earlier mini patches aimed at fixing exploits, collision issues, and progression bugs. The studio has also acknowledged ongoing technical challenges such as matchmaking irregularities, confirms updates and hotfixes are under development as community feedback persists.

With the addition of seasonal content and a suite of systemic improvements, the Cold Snap update represents a major mid-season evolution for ARC Raiders, reshaping gameplay and progression for both casual and competitive Raiders.