Arc Raiders makes huge Expedition changes, bonus skill points now free but earned by dealing damage: "We want expeditions to be fun and not an endless grind"

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Arc Raiders developer Embark Studios has taken a sledgehammer to the game's soft-wipe Expeditions, removing the poorly received money grind entirely and replacing it with a five-day challenge to deal damage, seemingly to Arc or to other players.

In a fresh blog post, Embark admits, "We know that grinding for monetary value isn't the most exciting experience. By introducing damage-based objectives and trials instead of stash value, we're providing more freedom and variety in how you can complete the Expedition, encouraging the use of loot rather than hoarding it throughout the 5-day window.

"Above all, we want expeditions to be fun and not an endless grind. We believe these changes create a fair and engaging challenge that keeps everyone active across the full 5 days."

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To that end, once you complete the caravan project by submitting the required materials, you'll now wait for the Expedition window – with the next coming April 28 and closing May 4 – and then sign up for a five-day challenge.

Some specifics for this challenge are still unclear; Embark has only said we'll be "dealing damage with any weapon or gadget against any target (except practice range)," suggesting PvP and PvE are on the table. You'll have Tuesday through Sunday to clear whatever this ends up being.

"All players who have completed their Caravan will get the challenge (no need to sign up to see it)," Embark says.

Just how much fighting we need to do will likely determine how many people feel (and understandably complain) that they can't complete this Expedition challenge in five days because they don't have enough time to play, whereas the caravan can be spread out over months.

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The catch-up Expedition mechanic which lets players make up for skill points they missed last time will still be tied to cash value – 300,000 per extra skill point.

Expedition rewards remain largely unchanged: 12 more stash slots, up to five bonus skill points, a new Scrappy turban cosmetic, and the final, evolved version of the Patchwork outfit complete with new accessories. Compounding buffs to XP gains, Scrappy resource generation, and repair value will also continue to compound.

In arguably better news, Embark's also added a "last call" sign-up for folks who miss the initial Expedition window. After the window closes, during "the next log-in, players will get a pop up with the last chance to sign up. The damage requirement is not needed for this option although no skill points will be granted."

Embark says Expeditions are still in flux, and suggests they will change again in the future based on feedback. "We hear you on rewards, and we are committed to making them more meaningful and reflective of what players actually achieve," the devs write. "We also understand that losing full progression is a concern for many, and we will be iterating on what gets reset and what carries over into future expeditions."

Arc Raiders studio contacted by crime scientist "intrigued by how players are interacting," dev says only 30% of players focus on PvP: "It kind of blew the whole extraction shooter open."

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Austin WoodSenior writer

Austin has been a game journalist for 12 years, having freelanced for the likes of PC Gamer, Eurogamer, IGN, Sports Illustrated, and more while finishing his journalism degree. He's been with GamesRadar+ since 2019. They've yet to realize his position is a cover for his career-spanning Destiny column, and he's kept the ruse going with a lot of news and the occasional feature, all while playing as many roguelikes as possible.

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