ARC Raiders Delays Expeditions Until Early 2027 as Embark Promises Major Improvements

Embark Studios is putting one of ARC Raiders’ biggest endgame systems on hold. The developer has confirmed that Expeditions will be paused after Expedition 5 and will not return until early 2027, giving the team time to make significant changes based on player feedback.

The announcement comes as ARC Raiders prepares for Expedition 5, which will run from September 8 to September 29. While the upcoming event introduces several changes, including a longer departure window and an optional quest reset, it will also be the last Expedition available for several months.

According to the gaming studio ARC Raiders, the current system requires more than small adjustments. The studio specifically acknowledged concerns about restrictive timing, rewards, and how difficult it can be for newer players to catch up.

“Some of the issues you’ve raised, like the tight departure windows, the reward structure, and accessibility for new players, need more than incremental fixes,”

the developer said.

Expedition 5 Will Be the Last Before the 2027 Overhaul

Expedition 5 is scheduled to open on September 8 and close on September 29, with the window extended from two weeks to three. Players must sign up during that period, as Embark has removed the previous “last call” feature that allowed late participation.

The upcoming Expedition also changes how quest progression works. Players will be able to choose whether they want their quest progress reset, addressing complaints about repeatedly completing the same quest lines after each Expedition.

The developer said the pause is necessary because Expeditions need a larger redesign.

“The fifth Expedition will be the last one until early 2027, when Expeditions will return with major improvements, tackling some of the biggest player pain points.”

The decision means Expedition 5 carries additional importance for players who want to complete their current progression cycle before the extended break. Those who finish all five Expeditions will fully unlock the Zenith Outfit, while consecutive buffs earned before the pause will remain active.

Embark Studios prepares major progression changes for 2027 (Image via Embark

Embark Addresses Caravan and Trial Progress

The Expedition pause will not erase every form of player progress. Embark confirmed that partially completed Caravans will be converted into Ermal Vouchers of equal value because Caravans will reset during the break.

Those vouchers can be used to purchase Ermal offers, trade for ARC Parts and firearms, or be sold for Coin. This should prevent players from losing the resources they have already invested in incomplete Caravan progress.

The studio is also temporarily pausing Trials. The current Trial season will end on September 22, after which the mode will be unavailable for two weeks before returning on October 8.

That date is significant because it coincides with ARC Raiders’ upcoming Frozen Trail update. The studio has already described Frozen Trail as the game’s biggest update since launch, with the developer moving toward fewer but larger content releases.

Players Are Divided, but Many Support the Expedition Delay

The reaction to the pause has been mixed. Some players are frustrated that ARC Raiders will temporarily lose one of its primary progression systems, particularly after complaints that major content updates are already spaced far apart.

However, many players agree that the Expedition system needs more substantial changes. One player responding to the announcement wrote that removing the game’s “only progression system” was a risk but added that

“if it’s what has to be done to improve Expeditions so be it.”

Another player was more skeptical, saying they had already spent hundreds of hours with the game but had not played recently, adding,

“Hoping for a huge October surprise, but not holding my breath.”

The Expedition pause puts additional pressure on Frozen Trail to deliver a meaningful boost for the extraction shooter. Embark will share more information about the Expedition overhaul in September, but players will have to wait until early 2027 to see whether the redesigned system delivers the major improvements the community has been asking for.