{"rewrite":{"id":"r_1b623d5c42b14165ae9128d8","clusterId":"c_e73d16706763439984daa965","slug":"nexon-sets-free-play-for-arc-raiders-from-october-8","model":"deepseek-v4-1-flash","headline":"Nexon Sets Free Play For ARC Raiders From October 8","summary":"Nexon announced on October 3, 2026 that ARC Raiders will be free to play from October 8 at 18:00 to October 12 at 17:00 Japan time on Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. The full release version is playable during that window, according to Embark Studios. The promotion runs alongside the launch of Frozen Trail, which the developer calls the largest update since release, adding the Pendula Pass map, a new base, and skill tree revisions. New players who start during the free period can reach Pendula Pass immediately by teaming with someone who has already unlocked it, since the map normally requires unlocking. ARC Raiders is a PvPvE extraction shooter set on a future Earth overrun by machines called ARC, with players as Raiders who carry resources back to the underground settlement Speranza. It supports solo play or teams of up to three.","whyItMatters":"The free period doubles as a recruitment tool for the new map, since a veteran can carry a first-time player into Pendula Pass without the usual unlock step.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eThe two outlets do not agree on the update\u0026#39;s name. Automaton calls it \u0026#34;Frozen Trail.\u0026#34; Game Spark calls it \u0026#34;Frozen Road\u0026#34; and also renders the new map as \u0026#34;Pendra Pass\u0026#34; rather than \u0026#34;Pendula Pass.\u0026#34; The update name and, at least in Game Spark\u0026#39;s version, the full release build is playable during the window.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe \u0026#34;Frigate\u0026#34; is a large ARC warship added as high-difficulty content aimed at veteran players. Raiders board it, open routes through its internal passages, and hold off ARC attacks.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026#34;Outpost\u0026#34; is the new base system, alongside an overhauled skill tree, new weapons, and weapon customization.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026#34;Amplified weapons,\u0026#34; which change how existing weapons behave, are planned, plus a \u0026#34;reward pass\u0026#34; that replaces the Raider Deck.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eA grappling hook, a selfie camera, and three new enemy types are also on the update list.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eGame Spark says the studio is working on matchmaking, anti-cheat, stability, and quality-of-life updates.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGame Spark frames the free period as a recruitment window: the new map normally needs unlocking, but a new player can reach it right away by teaming with someone who already has it. On PC, the game is listed on both Steam and the Epic Games Store.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Nexon's free window hands newcomers Pendula Pass early: teaming with an unlocked player skips the unlock gate entirely, letting them sample the map before deciding to buy.","twitterPost":"Nexon's free weekend lets beginners enter Pendula Pass by teaming with an unlocked player, bypassing the map's usual unlock requirement.","threadsPost":"Nexon's free play for ARC Raiders runs alongside Frozen Trail, the largest update since release. The detail worth catching: new players can reach Pendula Pass by teaming with someone who already unlocked it, bypassing the map's normal gate. That changes what the demo actually shows them.","newsletterBlurb":"Nexon will open ARC Raiders to free play from October 8 to October 12, timed to the Frozen Trail update and its Pendula Pass map. New players can skip the map unlock by teaming with someone who already has it. The patch also adds an Outpost base, a reworked skill tree, and new weapons.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Automaton\",\"url\":\"https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/20261003-471575/\",\"title\":\"ARC Raiders to Hold Limited-Time Free Play from October 8; Players Can \\\"Sample\\\" the \\\"Biggest Update Since Release\\\" Featuring a New Map\"},{\"source\":\"Game Spark\",\"url\":\"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/10/03/173117.html\",\"title\":\"[Limited-Time Free Play] The full release version of ARC Raiders can be played in its entirety during a free play period starting October 8! Timed to coincide with the release of the largest-ever update, Frozen Road\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":11959,"outputTokens":1270,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1791067464,"createdAt":"2026-10-03T22:42:17.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-10-03T22:43:21.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-03T22:43:21.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_e73d16706763439984daa965","canonicalTitle":"『ARC Raiders』、10月8日より期間限定フリープレイを開催へ。新マップも登場する「リリース以来最大アプデ」を“つまみ食い”できる","representativeArticleId":"a_08c565e8537da2e4da7af671","sourceCount":2,"writtenSourceCount":2,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[\"ARC Raiders\"],\"studios\":[\"Nexon\"],\"people\":[],\"type\":\"announcement\",\"domain\":\"games\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-10-03T00:22:24.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-10-03T06:05:02.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-03T22:43:20.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Automaton","url":"https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/20261003-471575/","title":"『ARC Raiders』、10月8日より期間限定フリープレイを開催へ。新マップも登場する「リリース以来最大アプデ」を“つまみ食い”できる"},{"source":"Game Spark","url":"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/10/03/173117.html","title":"【期間限定無料プレイ】『ARC Raiders』製品版がまるごと遊べるフリープレイ10月8日より開催！最大規模アップデート「凍った道」配信に合わせて"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":["ARC Raiders"],"studios":["Nexon"],"people":[],"type":"announcement","domain":"games","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["Nexon announced on October 3, 2026 that ARC Raiders will be free to play from October 8 at 18:00 to October 12 at 17:00 Japan time.","The ARC Raiders free play period covers Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.","The ARC Raiders update Frozen Trail releases on October 8, 2026 and adds the Pendula Pass map, an Outpost base, an overhauled skill tree, new weapons, and weapon customization.","New ARC Raiders players can access Pendula Pass during the free period by teaming with a player who has already unlocked the map.","ARC Raiders is a PvPvE extraction shooter that supports solo play or teams of up to three players."]}