ARC Raiders is replacing its existing Raider Deck progression system with a new Reward Pass structure when the Frozen Trail update arrives on October 8.
Embark Studios says the change is intended to make progression last longer and feel more rewarding. The previous Raider Deck system allowed players to save large amounts of Cred and then complete newly released decks almost immediately, reducing the incentive to continue completing Feats.
Reward Passes are designed to address that problem by tying rewards more closely to ongoing progression.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Game | ARC Raiders |
| Update | Frozen Trail |
| Release date | October 8 |
| Old system | Raider Decks |
| New system | Reward Passes |
| Progression method | Completing Feats |
| Free Pass levels | 60 |
| Premium Pass levels | 60 |
| Premium Pass price | 1,150 Raider Tokens |
| Free Pass token rewards | 200 Raider Tokens |
| Premium token rewards | Up to 1,150 Raider Tokens |
| Legacy Pass | Free |
Raider Decks were being completed too quickly
Embark Studios says Raider Decks worked well as an initial progression system, but problems became more obvious over time.
Players accumulated Cred faster than the studio could account for.
As a result, when a new Raider Deck became available, many players already had enough saved Cred to complete it almost immediately.
That reduced the value of the reward progression and also gave players less reason to continue completing Feats.
The new Reward Pass system is intended to stretch progression across a longer period instead of letting saved currency bypass most of the experience.
Reward Passes will use Feats for progression
Reward Passes will revolve around completing Feats.
As players progress, they will unlock rewards such as outfits, cosmetics, gadgets, weapons, items, and Raider Tokens.
Embark describes the system as a more satisfying progression path that should remain engaging for longer.
Reward Passes will also be connected to major game updates.
That means each new major update can bring fresh rewards and progression content instead of relying on a separate static deck system.
Frozen Trail launches with Free and Premium passes
The first Reward Pass will arrive with Frozen Trail.
It will be available in Free and Premium versions.
Both tracks will contain 60 progression levels.
The Free Pass will offer a total of 200 Raider Tokens over its full progression path.
The Premium Pass will cost 1,150 Raider Tokens and will include additional cosmetic content.
These premium rewards will include more outfit modifications, alternative color options, and premium toggles for the new outfits introduced with the update.
Premium players can earn back 1,150 Raider Tokens
The Premium Reward Pass will include up to 1,150 Raider Tokens across its progression.
That matches the stated cost of the pass itself.
Players who complete enough of the Premium track can therefore earn enough tokens to cover the price of the next Reward Pass.
The supplied material does not explain whether every future Premium Pass will also cost 1,150 Raider Tokens, so that should not be assumed yet.
A Legacy Pass will preserve old Raider Deck rewards
Embark is also introducing a Legacy Pass.
This free progression track will collect cosmetic rewards and Raider Tokens from the old Raider Deck system into one place.
Players who have already unlocked those rewards will keep them.
They will not need to level through the Legacy Pass again to restore previously earned content.
This should prevent the transition from removing rewards that existing players already obtained through Raider Decks.
Frozen Trail also adds dynamic loot zones
The progression overhaul is only one part of the Frozen Trail update.
Embark is also adding dynamic loot zones, beginning with Pendola Pass.
These zones will change the locations of red and yellow points of interest when players return to the map.
The goal is to create more variation when repeatedly raiding the same location.
Instead of knowing exactly where valuable areas will appear every time, players may need to adjust their routes depending on how the map changes.
The development team says this type of system has been requested by the community and will initially be used as a test while gathering player feedback.
Frozen Trail arrives on October 8
ARC Raiders is currently available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
The Frozen Trail update will launch on October 8 with the new Reward Pass system, the Legacy Pass, and dynamic loot zones.
The biggest structural change is the removal of Raider Decks.
Embark is replacing a system that could be completed too quickly with one intended to keep Feats and rewards relevant for longer periods, while still preserving previously unlocked content through the free Legacy Pass.
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