ARC Raiders Update 1.45.0 rolls out on September 8, 2026. You must restart the game to begin downloading it. This version starts Expedition 5, adds a new Raider Project and changes several gameplay systems. It also sets an important deadline for players who still have Cred: the currency can be used until October 8, before expiring with Frozen Trail. The official Update 1.45.0 notes do not specify the exact time or time zone for this deadline.
The update is available now, but managing Cred already requires a decision. Players who still have some should use it before the announced date, while everyone else can take advantage of changes to quests, encumbrance, controls and stability.
ARC Raiders Update 1.45.0 starts Expedition 5
The new Raider Project, titled Ascending the Mountain, builds on clues connected to ghost ARC signals. They lead toward a mountain range beyond the reach of the Tube system. The announcement also adds the Hornet Hunter Set and community-designed duckies, which can be displayed in the Raider Den at Bird City.
Expeditions also change in one specific way: starting one no longer resets quests by default. Players can now choose to reset them when they leave. The Boonie outfit is also scheduled to become available from September 15, with no access requirements detailed in the notes.
Cred will expire with Frozen Trail
Cred will be removed as a currency with the Frozen Trail update. Remaining Cred can be used until October 8, after which it will expire. For players who still have some, this is the only practical deadline given in the announcement: spending it before that date is preferable to waiting for details about the future system.
The transition will not reset rewards that have already been earned. Previously claimed Raider Deck rewards will be kept, and existing Raider Deck rewards are also expected to remain available in the new system, which is described as more extensive. Its precise functionality has not yet been detailed, nor have the exact date and time of Frozen Trail.
Confirmed changes and fixes
- Severe encumbrance: once the loadout weight rises well above its limit, movement is restricted to walking, while sprinting and jumping are disabled. No numerical threshold is provided.
- Controls: quick item cycling can be remapped separately from the quick-use wheel, disabled or assigned to the same button.
- Aiming: the Aphelion's weapon sway is reduced to improve weapon stability.
- Exploration: Snitch Scanners can now spawn ARC like regular Snitches, with a lower chance of spawning a more powerful ARC. ARC Turbine mines can also be marked again.
Stability improves in several targeted areas. A crash that could occur shortly after the start of a session is fixed on PS5, while squad lockups after a teammate disconnects and reconnects have also been addressed. These lockups could prevent preparation and matchmaking. Error messages now also explain more clearly when a connection is lost during the queue or when crossplay settings are incompatible.
The announcement also notes a move from Unreal Engine 5.3 to 5.7. This technical change is confirmed, but it does not by itself establish a measured performance gain. The loadout weight indicator now updates after part of a stack is dropped, and the game displays “loadout full” when an item cannot be picked up because there is no space.
Some issues are still being monitored
The second part of Phantom Targets could not be started by some players. Compensation is planned in a future update, with no date or form announced. The notes also mention stability improvements targeting crashes on Xbox Series S and ask players to report any remaining issues.
On PC, some crashes are linked to Windows Update KB5121003, and the notes point to a workaround while a fix is pending. On the Epic Games Store, keyboard controls may suddenly stop working; disabling active overlays or trying Alt-Tab are among the suggested solutions. Finally, the team describes version 1.45.0 as its last Live Update before October 8, while announcing that a smaller update is still planned before that date.
For ARC Raiders players, the immediate action is twofold: restart the game to trigger the download and use any remaining Cred before October 8. Expedition 5 and the gameplay adjustments are already here, but the new reward economy and Frozen Trail's exact schedule still need to be clarified.
