Embark Explains Why It Removed Raider Decks From ARC Raiders
Embark Studios has announced that its Frozen Trail update for ARC Raiders, arriving October 8, 2026, will replace the Raider Decks progression system with a new Reward Passes mechanic.
In an official blog post, the developers explained the reasoning behind this significant change to the game’s progression system. While Raider Decks proved effective during the early stages of the game’s live service, the studio identified mounting issues as players continued to earn resources through the system over time. The accumulation of resources created balancing challenges that the developers felt needed to be addressed.
The shift to Reward Passes represents Embark’s response to these concerns, offering a new approach to how progression and rewards are distributed to the playerbase. The update will also introduce a paid battle pass alongside the new progression mechanics, as part of a broader content refresh for the free-to-play title.
This change reflects the iterative nature of live-service game development, where studios must continuously adjust core systems based on how the community engages with them across extended play periods. Rather than persisting with a flawed system, Embark has opted to fundamentally rework the progression experience with the Frozen Trail update.