ARC Raiders Is Putting Expeditions on Ice Until 2027 for a Major Overhaul
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Embark Studios is placing the ARC Raiders Expedition system on an extended hiatus following the final 2026 run in September, with a redesigned version slated to return in 2027.
Embark Studios has announced a surprising hiatus for the Expedition system in ARC Raiders, confirming that the upcoming fifth run will be the last one before a lengthy pause stretching into 2027. According to recent updates from the developer, the decision comes directly from player feedback regarding tight departure windows, onboarding friction for new players, and overall reward balancing. While structural resets are nothing new for the extraction shooter, losing this feature for an extended period has sparked mixed reactions across the community as players weigh the promise of future improvements against the immediate loss of regular progression cycles.
Before the system goes dark, the final 2026 Expedition window opens on September 8 and runs through September 29. This last hurrah introduces a few notable twists, including an opt in quest requirement that gives players the choice to skip the reset entirely and keep their current progress if they prefer to bypass the grind for the Hullcracker blueprint. Those who do choose to participate and successfully build their caravan will walk away with permanent account perks, such as expanded stash space, skill points, buffs, and exclusive cosmetics like the Patchwork and Zenith outfits.
This pause follows a broader shift in how Embark manages live service updates for the title, including the recent pivot away from monthly content drops toward larger biannual updates like the upcoming Frozen Trail patch in October. By taking the Expedition mechanic offline for a redesign, the team hopes to eliminate major community pain points and return with a more accessible and rewarding system. For now, players have a limited window to secure their final seasonal rewards before the feature heads into hibernation for the foreseeable future.
Tags: ARC Raiders, Embark Studios, Extraction Shooter, PC Gaming, Console Gaming
Original article: Game Rant