The Expeditions system in Arc Raiders is now in doubt beyond a simple pause. Embark Studios previously said the feature would stop after its fifth run and come back in early 2027 with major changes. Executive Producer Aleksander Grøndal has since said the studio may not bring it back at all.
Quick answer: Expeditions are paused after the fifth run and may either return reworked in early 2027 or be removed entirely. Embark has not decided, and no change will land before Frozen Trail.
What Embark said about scrapping Expeditions
Speaking at Gamescom, Grøndal acknowledged the current Expeditions design fell short and said the team wants to make significant changes so the endgame feels more rewarding. He also made clear that removing the system is a real possibility, not just a rework.
Maybe we’ll scrap the whole system altogether. That is on the table, too. Right now, the team is trying to figure out what the next steps for Expeditions are.
The studio has heard the recurring complaints, including short departure windows, weak rewards, and poor accessibility for newer players. Those issues are exactly why Expeditions were paused rather than patched again. A final decision on the system’s future has not been made, and Embark plans to announce it later.
The fifth Expedition and its closing date
The fifth Expedition is the last one planned for the foreseeable future. Its window opened on September 8 and closes on September 29, 2026 (10am CEST / 8am UTC / 1am PT). To earn the rewards, you must sign up during the window and complete the challenge, then depart on the closing date. There is no last call this time, so signing up before the window ends is required.
This run also introduced changes based on feedback. Departing no longer resets your quest progress by default, the window was extended from two weeks to three, and you can choose whether to reset quests when you leave.
If you have been undecided about departing, the fifth Expedition is the point to act, since the system will not run again for a long stretch.
What carries over during the pause
Progress is not lost while Expeditions are on hold. The consecutive buffs you have earned persist through the pause, so no ground is given up on that front.
- Consecutive buffs (XP boost, Scrappy materials boost, repair value increase) remain active during the break.
- Completing all five Expeditions fully unlocks the Zenith Outfit.
- Caravans are reset, and any partially completed Caravan is replaced with Ermal Vouchers of equal value.
The Ermal Vouchers can be used on Ermal offers alongside ARC Parts and firearms trades, or sold for Coin.
When a decision is coming
No news or changes to Expeditions will arrive before the Frozen Trail update, which is set to land in October. Grøndal said the team has not settled on how the mode will change, and any word on that will come after Frozen Trail is live.
Frozen Trail itself is a large update focused elsewhere. It brings a progression overhaul, a reworked skill tree, new Outposts, new ARC enemies, and a new map. The state of Expeditions sits separate from that rollout, with its fate to be confirmed at a later point.
