ARC Raiders could permanently remove its Expeditions system, with Embark Studios confirming that discontinuing the feature is one of several options currently under consideration. The fifth Expedition is scheduled to conclude later in September, and while Embark previously planned to bring the system back in early 2027, its long-term future is now less certain.
No final decision has been made. Executive Producer Aleksander Grøndal says the team is still discussing how to overhaul Expeditions, meaning the fifth window could either lead into a substantially redesigned system or potentially become the last Expedition altogether.
Embark Is Considering Removing ARC Raiders Expeditions
Speaking during Gamescom, Grøndal acknowledged that the current Expedition system needs significant changes.
Embark is exploring ways to improve the feature, but the developer isn’t limiting itself to a straightforward rework. According to Grøndal, completely discontinuing Expeditions remains “on the table.”
The team hasn’t decided which direction it will take.
Players also shouldn’t expect definitive answers before the upcoming Frozen Trail update, which is scheduled for early October. Even after Frozen Trail launches, Embark may need additional time before settling on the future of Expeditions.
That makes the fifth Expedition particularly important for players who still want to experience the existing system.
The Fifth Expedition Could Be the Last
Embark’s previous roadmap painted a different picture.
The studio originally announced that Expeditions would be temporarily paused after the fifth Expedition window, with plans for the feature to return sometime in early 2027.
The latest comments introduce considerably more uncertainty.
Instead of a guaranteed return after the hiatus, Embark is now considering several possibilities, including significant changes to the system or removing it entirely.
For players who have never participated in an Expedition but want to experience its current progression and perks, the fifth window may therefore be worth considering. There is currently no guarantee that the existing version will return.
Whether Embark would introduce another form of progression reset or wipe mechanic in its place is also unknown.
Why Is Embark Reconsidering Expeditions?
Embark hasn’t announced a replacement or detailed exactly what a redesigned Expedition system would look like.
However, the studio has made clear that it believes substantial changes are necessary.
When Embark initially announced the upcoming pause, it encouraged the ARC Raiders community to provide feedback about Expeditions. The fact that developers are still discussing multiple possible directions indicates that the feature remains under active evaluation.
Community feedback could therefore play a role in determining what comes next.
The Expedition system has been one of ARC Raiders’ methods of providing longer-term progression and resets, so eliminating it would leave Embark with decisions to make about how those functions should operate in the future.
ARC Raiders Is Preparing for Frozen Trail
Regardless of what happens to Expeditions, ARC Raiders has a substantial update approaching.
Frozen Trail launches in early October and is set to introduce new enemies, a new progression system, and the game’s largest map to date.
The timing puts the update close to ARC Raiders’ first anniversary, giving Embark an opportunity to make broader changes as the extraction shooter moves into its second year.
The new progression system could be particularly relevant given the uncertainty surrounding Expeditions, although Embark hasn’t confirmed that it will serve as a direct replacement.
ARC Raiders Has Fallen From Its Launch Peak
The discussion around Expeditions also comes as ARC Raiders settles into a much smaller audience than it attracted around launch.
The game previously reached a Steam concurrent-player peak approaching 500,000 players. It still draws tens of thousands of players on a typical day, but its current audience is significantly below that initial high.
That makes the upcoming changes important for Embark as it attempts to maintain long-term engagement and respond to feedback from the remaining community.
Frozen Trail’s new map, enemies, and progression features will provide one part of that effort, while the future of Expeditions represents another major question.
For now, Embark hasn’t officially canceled Expeditions. The previously announced early 2027 return is simply no longer something players should treat as guaranteed. With discontinuation now explicitly among the possibilities being discussed, the fifth Expedition could potentially be the final opportunity to experience the system in its current form.
