16 January 2026

Move Over Tarkov, Free-to-Play Extraction Shooter Gets Big Update That Adds New Map, Snow Mode, and More to Make It a Valid Replacement

By newsgame

Escape From Tarkov is one of the central pioneers of the extraction shooter genre, but that hasn’t kept it in the good graces of some of its players. Last November, the long-awaited Escape From Tarkov 1.0 finally launched after nearly a decade of early access. However, major performance issues have continued to plague the game ever since. Escape From Tarkov helped bring a fresh genre into the spotlight, but other newcomers have showcased that there is now more competition in this space than ever before.

ARC Raiders was one of 2025’s biggest games, and one of the biggest strengths it has going for it is that it’s a more approachable take on the extraction shooter formula. It’s still a challenge, but not as grueling and unforgiving as Escape From Tarkov. There’s still time for Escape From Tarkov to bounce back from its performance problems, but extraction shooter fans are likely looking for something to sink their teeth into other than that and ARC Raiders. The answer may be found in free-to-play extraction shooter Arena Breakout: Infinite as it just dropped its Season 4 content. Arena Breakout: Infinite adds to the growing list of extraction shooters, and it has a lot of great new features to prove what it’s all about.

Arena Breakout: Infinite Brings Even More to the Table With its New Season 4 Content

New Guoyapos International Airport map
Northridge map is now a snow biome
New guns
Two new event modes
New rare items to collect
Improved server tick rate
Collection room

Guoyapos International Airport and Northridge Shake Up Gameplay

Arena Breakout: Infinite is one of the best new extraction shooters around right now, and recently added content makes it even stronger. Guoyapos International Airport brings a completely new hunting ground to Arena Breakout: Infinite. With this new map, longtime players and newcomers can discover fresh ways to successfully gain the upper hand in matches. The map blends outdoor and indoor environments, requiring players to change their strategy and stay alert for surrounding enemies. Open-air vantage points and enclosed environments make for a dynamic setting, but it also turns the dial up on the challenge.

Northridge getting turned into a snowy arena is one of the coolest changes in this update, though. Walking across snow will leave traces of a player’s footprints for five minutes, while the sounds of footsteps stomping along the powdery ground can be heard by nearby players. The frozen lakes open up new ways to explore and strategize in Northridge, while snow makes visibility a lot more difficult.

Arena Breakout: Infinite‘s gameplay has been praised on Steam, but that’s not the only reason it’s been a hit with so many extraction shooter fans. The graphics are great. Guoyapos International Airport and Northridge not only feel alive, but they also look it. The visuals and layout of the game’s maps add to the immersion as much as the solid level design does. Smooth, responsive gameplay combined with a great-looking world has resonated with a lot of Steam players.

Season 4 would be solid enough with Guoyapos International Airport and the revamped Northridge. The updates aren’t stopping there, though. Arena Breakout: Infinite‘s new content also adds some fresh ways to experience the game alongside some awesome guns, too.

Season 4’s Added Event Game Modes

Gold Bounty Assault
Melee-Only Combat

Melee-Only Combat mode doesn’t really take a lot of explaining. This mode happens in the Northridge Hotel, and each player is given the same items at the start of the round. It’s simple, but it’s also a surefire way to get the heart rate elevated while trying to evade other players. Gold Bounty Assault adds a little more complexity. A secret gold bounty will be dropped in Arena Breakout: Infinite‘s TV Station map filled with premium loot. Either way, Gold Bounty Assault and Melee-Only Combat introduce ways to bring an even deeper layer of action and competition to matches.

Season 4’s New Guns

AMB7 assault rifle
U191 marksman rifle
T191 assault rifle

Beyond the extra rifles to try out, new rare items and quality of life fixes, like a better server tick rate, can’t be overlooked. Also, for players who really like to boast about their finds, the Collection Room adds a new way to store some of the rarest in-game items. It’s a lot to take in for one season, but it’s a promising sign that starting Arena Breakout: Infinite could lead to solid post-launch support further down the road. It’s still a really new game. Now that it has some other extraction shooter heavy-hitters to compete with, it hopefully inspires even more big season changes and updates like Season 4 is doing.

Arena Breakout: Infinite is Like Escape From Tarkov But Without the Relentless Realism

If the ultra-realistic military sim vibe of Escape From Tarkov is your thing, then Arena Breakout: Infinite may not scratch that itch. However, extraction shooter fans who love a challenge but haven’t been connected with Escape From Tarkov‘s learning curve or are simply tired of the performance problems may finally get what they’re looking for with this free-to-play option. With no price tag attached, it’s at least worth a try. On the other end, the Escape From Tarkov 2026 roadmap is exciting, but it first has to get over the hurdles that have been plaguing it since the 1.0 launch. Escape From Tarkov may boast realism and deep immersion, but Arena Breakout: Infinite has better pacing and is also great for playing with friends. The latter’s PvP loop is one of its strong points, so gamers wanting a good multiplayer extraction shooter have a great option on Steam without having to spend a dime.

arena-breakout-infinite-season-4-game-rant-9

Arena Breakout: Infinite newness makes it exciting, but that also means it has a ways to go before it boasts the same amount of content as Escape From Tarkov. It’s definitely growing with each season, but the latter still trumps the former when it comes to overall content. Extraction shooters like Escape From Tarkov are playing with the formula to see how they can stand out, and Arena Breakout: Infinite on Steam is off to a strong start. It may still be in its early days, but it holds a lot of promise.