Arc Raiders has paused its Expeditions system indefinitely while the studio decides whether to keep it or start over entirely. The pause means the fifth Expedition, originally scheduled to depart at the end of September, will be the last until the overhaul is finished — or scrapped entirely.
Embark Studios announced the pause in August, saying the game needed to rework Expeditions to address longstanding issues that could not be handled with small fixes. Now, the studio’s executive producer has made it clearer: the system might not return at all.
What Expeditions Actually Are
Expeditions are the high-level progression path in Arc Raiders. Players invest time and resources into a “caravan” that, within the game’s fiction, allows their character to leave the Rust Belt forever. Practically, it resets levels, skills, and inventory while conferring certain unique benefits on the new character.
Many players have complained about the grind involved for a relatively minor payoff. The system has been a major undertaking, and the complaints have piled up.
Grøndal’s Gamescom Statement
Aleksander Grøndal, executive producer at Embark, spoke with PCGamesN at Gamescom about the future of Expeditions. His remarks were blunt:
“Maybe we’ll scrap the whole system altogether. That is on the table, too.”
Grøndal confirmed that the studio is actively considering scrapping the system entirely. He also acknowledged the system’s flaws: “Was the system perfect? No, probably not.” He added that the intent is to have the system change, but right now the team is focused on what Expeditions are.
The Pause and the Frozen Trails Update
The pause on Expeditions runs until early 2027. The fifth Expedition was supposed to depart at the end of September, but it will be the last until the overhaul is finished or the system is scrapped.
The announcement in August explained why the pause was necessary. Many of the issues raised by players, “like the tight departure windows, the reward structure, and accessibility for new players, need more than incremental fixes. They call for bigger changes.”
The team’s assessment of the situation is straightforward: the problems with Expeditions run deep enough that surface-level adjustments won’t solve them. The studio has decided that a full stop is the only way to properly reassess the system.
What Players Should Expect
Players should expect major changes to the Expedition system, regardless of whether it survives. The team is evaluating the entire structure, and the decision is not yet made.
Grøndal’s comments suggest the studio is genuinely open to a radical redesign. Whether that means a revised system or no system at all, the outcome will depend on what the team determines is best for the game.
The Decision Timeline
The studio has not said when it will make its final decision on the fate of Expeditions. Nothing will happen until the Frozen Trails major update drops in October.
For now, the fifth Expedition is dead. The October update will mark the point at which the studio can act.
Whatever the outcome, the studio’s willingness to consider scrapping a core feature is notable.
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