19 December 2025

ARC Raiders Leak Reveals Next Map Condition After Cold Snap

By newsgame

ARC Raiders‘ Cold Snap update has only just begun, and a leak has already revealed what the next major map condition will be. In a post on X, @TheRooster informed the public that the next Trials season will feature a map condition called “Toxic Swamp,” which will presumably function similarly to Cold Snap.

The Cold Snap update for ARC Raiders launched on December 16, 2025, bringing with it a new environmental map condition, a new mechanic, and new traversal dynamics for increased risk and reward. When Cold Snap is active on a map, snow covers the terrain, resulting in reduced visibility and frozen water that causes players to slide when they walk on it. Additionally, the update added a Frostbite mechanic that slowly drains health once the Raider’s body temperature drops below a certain point, unless players seek shelter or use healing items. Now, Toxic Swamp is expected to offer similar mechanics once it arrives, but that may not be for another month.

ARC Raiders Toxic Swamp Map Condition Will Seemingly Follow Cold Snap

According to @TheRooster’s post, this information was shared with them via i40R0NA. However, curious ARC Raiders PC players can easily see for themselves by changing their date on Windows to anything from December 22, 2025 and beyond while they’re in the game. This was a trick used previously by players who wanted to see what their stash value was ahead of ARC Raiders‘ first Expedition, and it appears the method is not only still viable, but it also has the potential to reveal future content ahead of schedule—in this case, Toxic Swamp.

ARC Raiders’ Leaked Upcoming Schedule

Trials Season 2 begins on December 22, 2025
Cold Snap Trials include “Search frozen Raider containers,” “Throw snowballs at Bastions,” and “Throw snowballs at Rocketeers”
Cold Snap may conclude the week of January 12, 2026
Toxic Swamp appears to begin the week of January 19, 2026
Toxic Swamp Trials include “Deliver thermal rocks”

Changing the date to December 22, 2025 in-game will “trigger” ARC Raiders Trials Season 2. From there, the date can be advanced in weekly increments to reveal all Trials challenges up to the week of January 19, 2026. In the weeks leading up to January 19, 2026, ARC Raiders will feature a handful of Cold Snap-related challenges, like “Search frozen Raider containers,” “Throw snowballs at Bastions,” and “Throw snowballs at Rocketeers.” Once the date is set to January 12, 2026, though, Cold Snap is replaced by a Hidden Bunker challenge in ARC Raiders, seemingly indicating that the rotation of the winter map condition will conclude that week as well.

ARC Raiders’ Toxic Swamp Map Condition May Begin on January 19, 2026

However, once the date is set to January 19, 2026, the Toxic Swamp map condition appears in that week’s Trials, with the challenge, “Deliver thermal rocks.” That is as far out as players can scout ahead, but it can be assumed that Toxic Swamp will be added to the rotation for the month following its arrival, just as Cold Snap will apparently be.

That’s not all either, as advancing the date to December 22, 2025 and “triggering” ARC Raiders Trials Season 2 also reveals the rewards players can acquire, should they advance far enough through the ranks. The outfit players can obtain for climbing the ranks in the second season of Trials is the Alpino skin, which comes with various colors and accessories as well. It’s hard to tell exactly what the skin looks like, but based on the very small image and the outfit’s name, it looks to be some sort of leisureware suitable for mountain environments.

What ARC Raiders’ Toxic Swamp Map Condition May Add

Considering the name “Toxic Swamp” implies harsh conditions like those that arrived with ARC Raiders‘ Cold Snap update, it’s likely players can expect maps with the condition to behave similarly. Whereas Cold Snap brought new mechanics and traversal dynamics, Toxic Swamp may and likely will include the same, but within the context of a caustic, rather than cold, environment. It’s possible that Toxic Swamp will feature pools of toxic liquid that can damage players, and potentially even poisonous gas that can slowly deplete their health, just as Cold Snap’s Frostbite mechanic does. Finally, just as the value of loot is increased when Cold Snap is active, Toxic Swamp maps will presumably follow the same rule.

It’s important to remember that none of this has been outright confirmed by Embark Studios, even though it is all currently present within the game. In the coming weeks, the developer is expected to reveal what its next steps are for ARC Raiders, then all will be clear.