ARC Raiders Blueprint Spawn Rates Appear Seriously Overtuned Right Now

A recent update for ARC Raiders aimed to improve Blueprint availability by expanding spawn locations in underrepresented areas—but it may have gone a step too far. Since the Cold Snap update launched on December 16, players have been reporting raids that end with four, six, or even eight Blueprints in a single extraction. The sudden influx has sparked excitement across social media, alongside growing speculation that a hotfix rollback could be coming.

Earlier today, Embark Studios rolled out Cold Snap, the game’s second major content update and a timely addition for the holiday season. The patch delivers a substantial wave of new content, including cosmetics, events, quality-of-life improvements, and bug fixes. Its headline feature is the Cold Snap Map Modifier, which blankets affected maps in snow. This isn’t just a visual overhaul—visibility is reduced, surfaces become slippery, and prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures can quickly kill Raiders who stay outdoors too long. As a trade-off, loot value is increased under the modifier. The update also introduces the Flickering Flames community event, further incentivizing players to dive in.

Blueprint Spawn Rate Buffed—Possibly Too Much 🧩

In the official patch notes, Embark explained that Blueprint spawn locations were expanded to improve access in areas that previously lacked meaningful loot. The studio also moved the Aphelion Blueprint drop from the Matriarch to Stella Montis. While Embark didn’t specify a target drop rate, player experiences since the update suggest the numbers may be far higher than intended.

One player described Stella Montis as “broken,” after extracting with four Blueprints, including the Aphelion, widely considered the rarest weapon in ARC Raiders. Another reported completing a single raid during the Cold Snap modifier and walking away with an eye-watering eight Blueprints, joking that future Expeditions might not pose much of a challenge if the rates remain unchanged.

Expedition Reset Concerns and Skill Tree Changes

The first ARC Raiders Expedition Project is scheduled to depart on December 22, but recent changes may be altering how players view the reset. While higher Blueprint availability would make rebuilding progress easier post-reset—assuming spawn rates stay as-is—Patch 1.7.0 also introduced a major system change: players can now reset their Skill Tree for Coins.

This is significant, as it’s impossible to fully max out the Skill Tree without resetting, due to the Expedition granting up to five additional Skill Points. Previously, this forced careful long-term planning. Now, with respecs available, some players argue the Expedition feels less meaningful, as specialization decisions are no longer permanent.

Will Embark Roll Back the Changes?

It’s unclear whether Embark intended Blueprint drops to reach this level. If not, a hotfix reducing spawn rates could be on the horizon. That said, the studio recently announced a shift in its update cadence. Weekly patches are no longer planned, with updates and store rotations moving to Tuesdays instead. Embark also confirmed the team will be taking a well-earned break over the Christmas period, though it emphasized that critical issues will continue to be monitored, with further updates planned for January.

Bonus Collaboration Content

Alongside Cold Snap, Embark also launched a new collaboration with The Finals, offering an exclusive outfit for ARC Raiders players. There’s a catch: to unlock the skin, players must jump into The Finals and complete three matches. Fortunately, The Finals is free-to-play and available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, making the reward relatively easy to claim.

For now, ARC Raiders players are enjoying a Blueprint boom—but whether it lasts or gets reined in remains to be seen.