ARC Raiders had a four-day free-play window in October 2026. Embark made the full game available on Steam, Xbox and PlayStation from October 8 at 09:00 UTC through October 12 at 08:00 UTC.
The promotion coincided with Frozen Trail. A separate PvE matchmaking beta ran from October 13 through October 20, after free access ended. Embark’s October 20 Store Update 2.2.0 says the beta had wrapped up.
Both events have ended. This guide records what each offered and what Embark’s first-party notices leave unanswered, including progression carryover and whether the PvE option would return permanently.
When did ARC Raiders’ free period and PvE test run?
- Free access ran: October 8, 2026 at 09:00 UTC to October 12, 2026 at 08:00 UTC
- PvE matchmaking beta ran: October 13 through October 20, 2026
Embark’s free-access announcement named Steam, Xbox and PlayStation.
ARC Raiders and Frozen Trail are also available through services such as Epic Games Store and GeForce NOW, but Embark’s free-play notice did not name those services as part of the promotion.
An internet connection, an Embark ID and the appropriate third-party platform account are required.
Was the full ARC Raiders game included?
Yes. Embark said the promotion provided access to the full ARC Raiders game, not a restricted demo.
Players had four days to try the standard extraction loop while Frozen Trail was live.
Embark’s free-play notice does not explicitly guarantee that progress earned during the promotion would carry over to a later purchase. The article therefore does not promise progression carryover.
Can new players enter Pendola Pass immediately?
Frozen Trail adds Pendola Pass, a new map centered on a fallen Emperor transport and the ARC response around it.
During the free period, new players could access Pendola Pass immediately if they were teamed with players who had already unlocked the map.
A new squad could not assume the map would be unlocked from its first session. Embark documented teaming with an established player as the access route.
Frozen Trail also brings new ARC enemies, new weapons and gadgets, Raider Outposts, expanded weapon progression, a skill-tree rework and the new Reward Pass system.
What is free in the Frozen Trail Reward Pass?
Frozen Trail replaces the old Raider Deck structure with a new Reward Pass system.
The Frozen Trail Pass has 60 levels and separate free and premium tracks.
- Free track: new base outfits, cosmetics, gameplay items such as weapons and gadgets, other items and up to 200 Raider Tokens
- Premium track: additional outfit variants, weapon stencils, hairstyles and up to 1,150 Raider Tokens
- Legacy Pass: combines rewards from older Raider Decks, while already-earned rewards stay unlocked
Embark specifically says the Premium track does not put gameplay-benefiting weapons or gadgets behind that payment tier. Those gameplay items are on the free side of the system.
Did free play include the PvE beta?
No. Embark’s separate PvE matchmaking beta ran from October 13 through October 20, after the free-access promotion had ended.
During the test, players could switch between normal PvPvE matchmaking and a PvE option with no player-to-player damage. PvE sessions could include solo, duo and trio players together.
The test also had restrictions. Embark excluded several higher-tension activities and conditions, including Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate and Frigate.
Embark described this as a limited test. The checked October 20 update confirms the beta ended, but does not say whether the same PvE option will become permanent.
The promotion and beta were separate opportunities: free access ended before the PvE test began.
What remains unconfirmed?
- whether free-period progression is guaranteed to carry into a later purchase
- whether Embark will expand the free promotion beyond Steam, Xbox and PlayStation
- whether the PvE toggle will become a permanent mode after the October test
Embark’s published notices do not settle those points. The October 20 update says the beta wrapped up, but it does not promise permanent PvE matchmaking or an expanded free-access promotion.