The window to join the fifth Arc Raiders Expedition opens in just over two weeks, and will be running until the end of September, but it’ll be the last seasonal-style reset to the extraction shooter’s progression “until early 2027.” Embark Studios has already made adjustments to the latest Expedition in response to player feedback – you’ll no longer be forced to clear your quest progress, for example – but the studio acknowledges that “bigger changes” are needed to better the system for the long term.
“We’ve been carefully reviewing your feedback on Expeditions, and while we’ve made ongoing improvements along the way, we’ve come to realize that 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,” Embark writes. “They call for bigger changes.” As such, the fifth wipe for the high-stakes multiplayer game will be its last until some time in early 2027. “If you’ve been on the fence about departing, now is the time.”
If you’re sick of having to go back through the quest line with each reset, Arc Raiders Expedition 5 will give you the option to keep that progress. Embark adds that it will provide players who choose this with an alternative way to grab the Hullcracker Blueprint that is normally obtained as part of the quests. The developer is also extending the Expedition sign-up window from two weeks to three, but is removing the ‘last call’ feature that lets you jump in at the last minute, so be sure to get your name down in time.
As always, rewards will continue to stack up if you’ve been taking part in every Expedition to date. If this is your fifth time on the Caravan, you’ll be earning the completed Zenith Outfit, 12 more stash spaces (for a total of 60), and up to five skill points if you hadn’t previously reached the current maximum of 15.
If you’re already at that skill point cap, there are damage challenges that can earn you a blueprint for each completed departure objective, along with 150 Raider Tokens. The bonus buffs to base XP, Scrappy materials, and repair value earned for completing consecutive Expeditions will also continue, though they’ll be capped at the same tier-three maximum as last outing.
The sign-up window for Arc Raiders Expedition 5 opens on Tuesday September 8 at 4am PT / 7am ET / 12pm BST / 1pm CEST, and closes on Tuesday September 29 at 1am PT / 4am ET / 9am BST / 10am CEST. There will be no last call period, so if you aren’t registered by the deadline, you’ll be out of luck.
Once the Expedition is complete, that’ll be it for the remainder of 2026. Embark says all consecutive buffs will persist through the full pause period so you don’t lose any progress. It adds that since Caravans will be reset, any partially completed ones will be replaced with Ermal Vouchers of equal value, which you can use on Ermal offers or sell for Coins.
The developer promises that “Expeditions will return with major changes, tackling some of the biggest player pain points.” If you’re curious what that looks like, you won’t have to wait until next year, as Embark plans to share some initial details about what it’s got in mind some time in September. “As always, keep the feedback coming,” it concludes. “Let us know what you think, and we will continue to make improvements.”
