Arc Raiders pauses Expeditions until early 2027 after fifth and final seasonal wipe

Embark Studios has announced that the fifth Expedition for its extraction shooter Arc Raiders will be the last seasonal reset until early 2027, as the developer acknowledges that the current system requires "bigger changes" than incremental fixes can provide. The pause, which will last over a year, marks a significant shift in how the studio plans to handle the game's long-term progression and player retention.

The fifth Expedition opens on 8th September and runs until 29th September, giving players a three-week window to sign up – an extension from the previous two-week period. However, Embark has removed the "last call" feature that previously allowed latecomers to join at the final moment, meaning anyone who misses the registration deadline will be locked out entirely. The developer has framed this as the ideal time for players who have been hesitant about participating to commit, writing that "if you've been on the fence about departing, now is the time."

In response to player feedback, Embark has made several adjustments to how the Expedition works. Quest progress reset, which was previously mandatory with each new Expedition, will now be optional. Players who choose to keep their quest progress will need to find an alternative way to obtain the Hullcracker Blueprint, which is normally tied to the quest line. The developer has not yet specified what that alternative method will be, but it suggests the change is designed to reduce the repetitive grind that some players found frustrating.

Rewards and progression carry over

The rewards structure for the fifth Expedition includes the full Zenith Outfit for players who have completed all five Expeditions, up to 12 additional stash spaces (capped at 60 total), and skill points that now cap at 15. Players who have not reached the skill point maximum from earlier Expeditions can still catch up. Consecutive buffs – which boost base XP, Scrappy materials, and repair value for completing successive Expeditions – remain capped at three stacked levels. Embark has confirmed that these buffs will persist through the entire pause period, so no progress is lost.

For players who have partially completed Caravans (the in-game progression system tied to Expeditions), those will be replaced with Ermal Vouchers of equal value. These vouchers can be used to purchase Ermal offers, trade for ARC Parts and firearms, or sold for Coins. The developer has also promised that mystery rewards will be available for completing the Expedition, though details have not been disclosed.

Why the pause matters

Embark's decision to pause Expeditions for over a year stems from what it describes as fundamental issues with the system. The studio has identified three main pain points: tight departure windows that pressure players into rigid schedules, a reward structure that does not feel satisfying for long-term engagement, and accessibility barriers for new players who struggle to integrate into the existing progression cycle. "They call for bigger changes," Embark stated in a blog post, noting that incremental fixes have not been sufficient to address these concerns.

The developer plans to share more details about the planned changes in September, but has not yet specified what form those improvements will take. The pause period will allow Embark to redesign the Expedition system from the ground up, rather than patching it piecemeal. This approach mirrors the studio's broader philosophy of iterative development, but it also carries risks: a year-long gap in seasonal content could test player patience, especially in a genre where regular updates are expected.

Trials mode also taking a break

Separately, Arc Raiders' Trials mode is also receiving a shorter break. The current Trials season ends on 22nd September, with the mode returning on 8th October. This suggests that while Expeditions are paused, the game will still see some form of ongoing content, albeit at a reduced cadence.

Arc Raiders is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. The game received a mixed reception at launch, with Eurogamer awarding it two out of five stars, citing its "rich PvE combat and an unusually friendly community" but criticising Embark's continued use of AI voice generation. Last month, the studio added a long-requested feature that allows players to track their playstyle separately across Solo, Duo, and Trio matchmaking pools, indicating that Embark remains responsive to community feedback even as it plans a major overhaul of the core Expedition system.