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ARC Raiders Gamescom 2026: What Do Players Most Want Embark to Answer About Frozen Trail?
ARC Raiders team will be participating in Gamescom from August 26th to 30th. Besides merchandise and freebies, there's also a chance to see Scrappy. For us, the more anticipated aspect is whether this event will bring more information about Frozen Trail.
Many people haven't lost interest in ARC Raiders, but have already completed most of the current game's content. Frozen Trail is highly anticipated, and players now want to know if October update can solve the game's long-term problems.

If Frozen Trail can give veteran players a reason to continue playing, its significance will go beyond just content addition; it could become a major turning point for ARC Raiders.
Endgame
Expeditions is currently one of the most discussed topics in ARC Raiders community. Many players want to know how Expeditions system will continue to develop after its suspension. After Frozen Trail, will new goals, rewards, or gameplay elements that players can engage with long-term be added?
This question is closely related to endgame content. As players complete quests, projects, workbench upgrades, and other long-term goals, new content in Frozen Trail will gradually become available. At this stage, if players dislike PvP and are tired of repetitive loot loops, the amount of content they can continuously pursue will significantly decrease.
ARC Raiders Endgame needs to provide veteran players with substantial gear and resources, with something worthwhile to invest in. New arcs, hardcore arc maps, and more dangerous events can provide a renewed challenge for accounts nearing completion.
Besides Expeditions, Skill Tree is also key to changing the endgame content after Frozen Trail. I hope ARC Raiders team can answer at Gamescom 2026 whether Skill Tree Rework will be released with October Update, as this directly affects future gameplay.
QoL
Another issue players are concerned about is the optimization of QoL. Future updates to ARC Raiders will almost certainly revolve around loadout system. For players who enjoy experimenting with different gear, each new loadout setup can take 5 to 10 minutes, followed by reorganizing parts.
The raid itself might only take a few minutes, but the pre-raid preparations significantly slow down the pace.
An ideal loadout system doesn't need to be overly complex. Saving 3 to 5 favorite loadouts and displaying whether inventory is missing items during configuration selection would solve a large part of the problem. If an ARC Raiders Item is missing, it should be clearly indicated instead of requiring players to revisit the stash.
Stash management is another QoL area that ARC Raiders needs to optimize. Organizing stash, preparing ammo, crafting gear, splitting the stack, and selling or recycling are not difficult operations in themselves, but they are repeated for every raid.
Ammo is particularly problematic. Having enough materials but being unable to craft ammo because of a lack of stashes slots makes inventory management go from a strategic trade-off to a mere operational burden.
A search bar function also needs to be implemented. As your inventory and materials grow, even finding recently crafted items can require searching through countless resources. A direct search by name would greatly simplify stash management.
Repairs suffer from similar issues. Having the blueprint and necessary materials but having to leave ARC Raiders repair page, craft in another interface, and then return to complete the repair is cumbersome. A repair interface that directly handles crafting would streamline the process.
Outfit
Currently, ARC Raiders outfit design is relatively complete, but players want more freedom to combine headwear, body, sunglasses, and other components. For example, owning a cowboy hat should allow players to combine it with other outfits, rather than being limited to official preset combinations.
Many discussions also compare it to The Finals. Since the same development team has already implemented rich character customization in The Finals, players naturally wonder why ARC Raiders still restricts the combination of different parts.
The official explanation mentions preserving the aesthetic vision, but this doesn't completely dispel doubts. After all, some outfits already feature a mix-and-match design, so we're more interested in whether this is because of technical limitations, visual style considerations, or simply a current lack of plans to open up more combination options.

PvE Servers
PvE-only serves and a No-ABMM mode are another area worth noting. ARC Raiders' core is PvPvE, but as playtime increases, some players do want more options, such as a fully PvE environment or the ability to disable ABMM.
Therefore, whether there are any plans for PvE-only servers or a No-ABMM mode is a question worth raising during Gamescom. The community's demand for PvE doesn't mean PvP has lost its appeal. What truly affects the experience for some players are cheaters, free kits, and extreme PvP behaviors.
Meanwhile, the differences in experience between Solo, Duos, Trios, and Squad Fill are also significant. Some players prefer teaming up with a fixed group of players rather than relying on random matchmaking. Therefore, the question isn't whether ARC Raiders should abandon PvPvE, but whether Frozen Trail can offer more gameplay options while retaining the core value of PvP.
Lore
ARC Raiders' world-building leaves much to explore. Its story isn't told all at once, but pieced together gradually as players explore. This makes Frozen Trail even more noteworthy, as the icy environment itself could become a crucial vehicle for expanding the world-building.
Embark developed both ARC Raiders and The Finals. Although the two games have completely different gameplay, historical settings, and narrative styles, the community has never stopped searching for possible connections between them and Lore. Gamescom 2026 provided an excellent opportunity to ask these questions.
Instead of directly asking if the two games share a universe, it's more appropriate to ask: How closely are the worlds and lore of ARC Raiders and The Finals connected, and should players expect those connections to become more obvious in the future? If Embark has indeed planted some connections between the two titles, Frozen Trail might be one such point to watch.
ARC Raiders Frozen Trail, while adding new maps, missions, and cosmetics, could certainly bring a sense of novelty, but for veteran players who have already completed most of the content, this appeal might not last long. What truly matters is whether it can change the existing game loop, and Gamescom 2026 will be the best platform for officially answering these questions.
…WoW TBC Classic Anniversary Phase 3 Black Temple Breakdown: From First Pull to Illidan, How Long for Casual Guilds?
Players, the PTR for WoW TBC Classic Anniversary Phase 3 concluded successfully on August 17th, and Black Temple was undoubtedly the core raid many players eagerly awaited. Based on players' experiences in the PTR, this magnificent temple truly delivers a game pace drastically different from Tier 5 content.
For casual guilds with limited time and varying skill levels, understanding the difficulty of this raid beforehand is far more practical than blind optimism.
Gear Basics
Do you need very strong gear to participate in TBC Classic Anniversary Black Temple raid? The facts from the PTR tell us that you don't.
Some characters participating in the PTR were still wearing Phase 2 gear (dropped by Serpentshrine Cavern and Tempest Keep), with only a few having obtained Phase 3 items in advance.
Even so, the progression through the first seven bosses was quite smooth, indicating that the first half of Black Temple wasn't designed with excessively high barriers to entry - as long as your team could consistently clear SSC and TK and possessed the corresponding Tier 5 gear, you were fully qualified to enter Black Temple in Phase 3.
Once you reached this basic level, gear wouldn't be a factor affecting your progression speed in TBC Black Temple.

The First Seven Bosses
From High Warlord Naj'entus to Mother Shahraz, the overall experience of these fights was roughly equivalent to Tier 5 raids.
They all had relatively clear combat mechanics. For example, Supremus's volcano required special attention - its damage radius was much larger than it appeared, and if you were distracted, you could easily be killed.
Teron Gorefiend and Shade of Akama felt like free bosses during the raid; once you were familiar with the basic mechanics, you could clear them on your first try.
The mechanics of Gurtogg Bloodboil and Reliquary of Souls are perhaps the most complex of the first seven bosses, requiring some time to adapt.
However, it's currently unclear how much Shadow Resistance we need to stack when facing Mother Shahraz in BCC Phase 3.
In short, the common thread in these fights is that individual members of your guild can make mistakes, but as long as the healers can compensate, the raid can still progress.
For casual guilds, the first few weeks might require two or three nights of trial and error, but once everyone has seen the boss's abilities, the pressure of clearing the raid will be much less.
The Illidari Council
From player feedback on the PTR, we know that the real difficulty turning point in the entire TBC Black Temple isn't the final boss, Illidan Stormrage, but The Illidari Council.
This fight is significantly more complex: blizzards and Flame Strikes occur simultaneously, and the four council members will alternately gain magic or physical immunity shields. This means your team must be able to flexibly switch targets - when Lady Malande is magic immune, a physical damage dealer needs to interrupt her Circle of Healing.
And when she becomes physical immune, a Mage's Counterspell or Shaman's Earth Shock is needed to interrupt her spell.
The entire fight demands near-perfect execution of each member's role, as any critical mistake could lead to casualties or even a wipe in BCC.
On the PTR, even experienced teams were stuck on The Illidari Council fight for nearly three hours, highlighting the extremely high discipline and patience required.

Illidan Stormrage
After successfully defeating The Illidari Council, Illidan Stormrage felt more like a celebration after a fierce battle.
While he has many abilities, including Eye Beam, Shadow Cage, Flame Burst, etc., each is simple and easy to understand; with practice, you can defeat him.
As long as your team's positioning is reasonable, and your DPS handles Flame Burst during the transition phase, defeating Illidan Stormrage is only a matter of time.
Based on PTR projections, if you can defeat The Illidari Council, Illidan Stormrage will probably fall within two to three attempts.
Therefore, casual guilds should focus their efforts on conquering The Illidari Council in the early game, as that is crucial to clearing WoW TBC Classic Anniversary Black Temple.
Practical Advice
Casual guilds aiming for success in TBC Phase 3 Black Temple should carefully consider the following advice:
First, do not blindly believe in extreme strategies like requiring the entire raid to stack Shadow Resistance.
Preparing the required Shadow Resistance gear often costs a fair amount of TBC Classic Anniversary gold, especially if your guild needs to get materials from Auction House.
Try using gear without Shadow Resistance first, and then gradually adjust accordingly.
Second, it's best to pre-assign members responsible for interrupting Lady Malande's spellcasting during The Illidari Council fight to ensure smooth target switching.
Next, you don't need to fill the first few weeks of TBC Phase 3 Black Temple with activities to avoid fatigue.
Finally, remember to use simple and easy-to-understand tactical phrases so that each member remembers their core tasks for each phase of Black Temple.
Phase 3 Black Temple won't destroy casual guilds; it will only weed out teams willing to support each other and learn from failures.
With patience, all well-functioning, established teams can complete Black Temple by the middle of TBC Classic Anniversary Phase 3 and achieve a great sense of accomplishment!
…MLB The Show 26 Field of Dreams Update Shows Why Players Want More Than Diamond Dynasty Rewards
MLB The Show 26 has consistently followed a similar update pattern: more player cards, more events and challenges, more modes-all aimed at increasing player engagement.
However, the recent update featuring the return of Field of Dreams suggests that the community may be hoping for something different-not just another reward system, but a renewed appreciation for the essence of baseball.
Currently, MLB 26 community isn't solely focused on player ratings or Diamond Dynasty rewards; players are more interested in the nostalgic atmosphere and emotional connection that Field of Dreams evokes.

Main Reason
Field of Dreams' immediate success stemmed from its unique experience, something that typical competitive gameplay couldn't replicate.
Not just MLB 26, but many sports games today increasingly rely on progression systems: FC 26, CFB 26, etc. Players must constantly complete tasks, collect player cards, strengthen their rosters, and strive for higher-rated player versions.
While such systems can maintain player engagement, frankly, they also cause sports games, which should be vibrant, to gradually deviate from their original core appeal - a love for sports itself.
Field of Dreams, unlike any previous progression system or competitive gameplay, features iconic stadium design, connections to baseball history, and the inclusion of legendary players in special scenarios. This allows players to finally slow down in MLB The Show 26 and enjoy the game itself, rather than just focusing on the outcome.
Player Recognition
Based on community discussions, the most popular players in Field of Dreams include legendary players like Roy Halladay, Ryne Sandberg, and Torii Hunter. Players believe the value of these players' cards lies not only in their card attributes but also in the baseball memories and historical significance behind them.
Roy Halladay
Roy Halladay is arguably one of the most iconic pitchers of the 21st century. He represents the most important pitching spirit in modern baseball - consistency, focus, and dominance in crucial moments.
With a flawless performance in 2010 and a no-hitter in his postseason debut that same year, Roy Halladay became one of the few pitchers in MLB history to achieve two such feats in the same year. Therefore, for fans, he is not only a legendary pitcher but also represents a pure aesthetic of baseball.
Ryne Sandberg
Sandberg Game in 1984 propelled Ryne Sandberg from a rising star into a nationally recognized talent. His subsequent multiple All-Star selections, Gold Glove Awards, and the 1984 NL MVP award further attested to his formidable ability.
His significance extends beyond statistics; he embodies the baseball memories of Wrigley Field era, representing a generation's emotional connection to traditional baseball culture and the team's legacy.
Torii Hunter
Torii Hunter's outstanding defensive skills and passionate playing style are what attract fans most. With five Gold Glove Awards and iconic moments like diving catches and wall tackles, his name has become synonymous with top-tier defense in baseball.
Compared to pure statistical performance, Torii Hunter brings players the passion and excitement of the game. One player even exclaimed, "I thought it was Torii Hunter, I almost went crazy!"
Besides these three, Whitey Ford is also incredibly popular. He spent most of his career with New York Yankees, helping the team win multiple World Series championships in the 1950s and 1960s. Known as The Chairman of the Board by fans, symbolizing his leadership role in the team, he was highly regarded.
Whether unlocking these players requires consuming MLB 26 Stubs or completing tasks, for players, the effort to collect them is more than just about improving roster strength or winning games; it's about collecting for nostalgia - a win-win situation.
The players and roster building for MLB The Show 26 Field of Dreams have become the most discussed topics among players recently. But this also raises another question: why is an event filled with nostalgia more anticipated than many regular collaborations that closely follow current events?

Nostalgia May Be the Solution
The success of MLB 26 Field of Dreams reflects a trend in sports games: nostalgia may become a powerful content tool for developers to update games.
In sports games, what players remember most are often legendary players with glorious achievements in historical matches, historical stadiums that hold special memories, and classic, unforgettable moments.
These memories can tightly bind players and the game through an emotional connection that simple gameplay and rewards cannot achieve.
In other words, players want more than just impressive statistics in MLB 26; they want more reasons to play and to care.
Also Read: MLB The Show 26: Fastest Stubs Farm in August? Try This Hall of Fame Mini Seasons Method
Finally
For MLB The Show 26, Field of Dreams didn't bring a completely new core gameplay, nor did it change the basic rules of Diamond Dynasty, yet it still generated a lot of discussion because it filled the emotional need beyond the competitive mode.
It didn't just take players back to a special stadium; it reminded MLB The Show that what truly keeps baseball games engaging for a long time is never the ever-increasing amount of content, but those memorable moments.
Even so, Field of Dreams cannot solve all of MLB 26's problems. The online mode experience, content balance, and long-term player retention will continue to influence community discussions.
However, this successful update also sent a very clear signal to the development team: the future direction of the game should not only revolve around building stronger teams, but also maintain the game's connection with players' love and passion for sportsmanship and unforgettable memories.
The success of Field of Dreams is precisely because it understood and implemented this principle.
…Which Mistfall Hunter Items Should You Never Sell? | Maximize Your Extraction Loot Value with These Tips
In Mistfall Hunter, a dark fantasy ARPG that blends Soulslike combat with PvPvE extraction gameplay, every successful extraction brings back a wealth of loot. As Warehouse gradually fills with various equipment, materials, and consumables, many new players encounter the same question: which items are worth keeping long-term, which can be sold directly, and which are best listed on Auction House to make money?
In fact, Mistfall Hunter's economic system is far more complex than it appears. Many seemingly insignificant materials may later be worth far more than a piece of equipment; and some loot that is not needed at the moment may play an important role in future character development. Below, I will introduce the most reasonable way to handle them according to item type.
Equipment: Prioritize Value, Not Selling Directly to NPCs

Equipment is the most frequently obtained loot by players and also the easiest to handle incorrectly. After obtaining a piece of equipment, the first thing to determine is whether it is suitable for your current class. If the stats are better, you can directly replace your current equipment or store it in Warehouse as a backup.
If the equipment belongs to another class, don't rush to sell it. All Mistfall Hunter characters share the same Warehouse, so this equipment can be used directly when leveling a new class. Even if you don't plan to play another class right now, it's recommended to check the market price before making a decision.
Many new players are used to selling unused equipment directly to NPCs, but this is actually the least profitable way to handle it. Auction House allows free player trading, and equipment of the same level can usually sell for much higher than NPC's purchase price.
If you want to sell quickly, you can refer to the current lowest market price and slightly lower it; this usually makes it easier to sell. Selling surplus items through Auction House provides a stable source of Mistfall Hunter Gyldenblod, which can be used to purchase equipment, materials, and other important resources.
Gems: Start Stockpiling as Early as Possible
Gems are one of the core elements of Mistfall Hunter gear building. Gem slots on equipment can be socketed with gems to gain affix bonuses. The combined effects of different affixes can dramatically increase a character's strength.
However, Gems are a resource that many players tend to overlook in the early game. While the importance of gems may not be apparent initially, they become crucial in the mid-to-late game, requiring a large number for personal use and equipment upgrades. Therefore, it's advisable to keep all gems of various qualities and types as long as you have storage space, and not rush to sell them.
Soul Catch Nets: Long-term Benefits
Soul Catch Nets are among the items with the highest return on investment in the game. Soul Catch Tree in your camp continuously provides rewards, and Soul Catch Nets shorten reward refresh times. Higher quality nets reduce waiting time even more.
A single high-quality Soul Catch Net can reduce waiting time by several hours, and investing in multiple high-quality Catch Nets significantly improves overall efficiency. Compared to the one-time income from selling them on the auction house, investing them in Soul Catch Tree often yields more substantial long-term returns, so selling them is generally not recommended.
Construction Material: Keep It Sufficient
Camp construction requires a large amount of Construction Material, but not all materials need to be hoarded. A reasonable approach is to keep at least one copy of each material to ensure that you don't get stuck due to material shortages when upgrading camp buildings later.
If you already have multiple copies of the same Epic or even Legendary building materials, and the current upgrade only consumes one of them, then the remaining ones can be sold. Since the auction house is very active, you can easily buy them again if needed in the future, so there's no need to occupy a large amount of storage space for a long time.
During camp upgrades, it's recommended to prioritize the material categories required for core buildings such as Warehouse, Forge, Tavern, Auction House, and Goddess Statue, and then decide which materials to keep.
Scavenger Squad Related Materials: Don't Sell Them by Mistake

As your camp upgrades, Scavenger Squads will become a crucial and stable source of resources. Sending them on missions requires specific materials. For example, some high-level Combat Bags require specific items like Slumbering Dragon Statue.
These materials are usually inconspicuous and easily mixed up with ordinary building materials, so it's recommended to mark them as Favorites to avoid accidentally selling them when organizing your storage. As your camp level increases, these materials provide a continuous stream of free equipment benefits, far exceeding the value of selling them.
Ingots and Forge: A Guaranteed Profit Investment
If you could only recommend one material to stockpile long-term, it would be Ingots. Once your Forge reaches a certain level, you can use Ingots to forge Epic gear, with a chance to directly obtain Legendary gear during the forging process.
A high-quality Legendary weapon typically commands a very high price on Auction House, so many players consider Ingots a long-term investment resource. Furthermore, start forging as soon as your Forge cooldown ends; don't waste any crafting opportunities.
Malt and Hops: The Most Underestimated Consumable Materials
Many new players overlook Malt and Hops. These two materials are primarily used in Tavern to craft Victory Wine. Drinking Victory Wine before each Raid grants a continuous stat boost for the entire raid. Some high-grade Wines even provide additional affixes, significantly enhancing character strength.
Since Victory Wine is a long-term consumable, the actual demand for Malt and Hops is far higher than imagined. Therefore, it's advisable to take it with you whenever you have space in your inventory, and don't give it up just because of its lower quality.
Related: Mistfall Hunter Gyldenblod Farming Strategies | How to Maximize Loot and Survive Every Extraction?
Manage Inventory Wisely & Master Resource Circulation
Many players new to Mistfall Hunter worry about regretting selling certain materials later, so they keep everything, quickly filling their inventory. This is completely unnecessary.
The game has a well-developed Auction House, where most tradable items can be repurchased. Therefore, what you really need to keep long-term are only those resources you'll need immediately or that you'll have a huge demand for later. Learning to utilize the market, rather than blindly hoarding, is the core principle of Mistfall Hunter's economic system.
Properly planning your inventory space will maximize the value of the loot brought back from each extraction. As you become more familiar with the game's economic system, you'll gradually find your own way of managing resources. Experiment boldly, find the rhythm that suits you best, and enjoy this dark fantasy extraction journey!
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