Embark Studios has opened the Expedition Project window in ARC Raiders, letting players complete the full Expedition loop and voluntarily reset their progression for the first time. The launch revealed crucial information about the game's seasonal structure, including when the next reset opportunity arrives.
Countdown Timer Points to Late February
Players who finished their first Expedition now see a countdown timer indicating the second window opens February 22. The timing matches Embark Studios' stated approach of making each Expedition season last roughly two months.
The countdown appeared right after players completed their first reset. They can immediately start building their second Expedition caravan, working through all the phases again and gathering resources for another departure from Speranza.
PC Players Exploit Date Trick to Reveal Future Content
Some PC players discovered they can manipulate the game's systems by changing their computer's date while running ARC Raiders. This tricks the internal calendar into advancing forward, revealing future map conditions, trials, and planned content before official release.
Players used this same method to confirm the February 22 window that's now an official countdown. They've also uncovered a Toxic Swamp map condition coming to the game, likely during the second season. The technique doesn't affect server-side elements but works on client-side content already in the game files.
ARC Raiders Breaks from Traditional Extraction Shooter Wipes
Unlike Escape From Tarkov and other extraction shooters that force mandatory progression wipes periodically, ARC Raiders makes its reset system optional. Players choose whether to wipe their progress or keep playing normally.
This approach lets anyone who misses an Expedition window continue working toward the next one. Players who don't finish their project before departure can maintain their progress and aim for the following reset instead.
The Reset Hits Hard
Completing an Expedition sends players back to square one. Character level drops to one, the stash empties completely, and workbenches clear out. All unlocked skills vanish along with previously collected resources.
Players who maxed their character, fully upgraded workstations, and cleared all available quests face starting over from scratch. The reset wipes almost everything tied to gameplay progression.
Permanent Progress Survives
Not everything disappears during the reset. Players keep all cosmetics, codex entries, and their in-game currency (Creds and Raider Tokens). Leaderboard standings and Raider Deck progress also carry over.
These permanent elements preserve some long-term progression even as core gameplay resets.
Rewards Make the Wipe Worth Considering
Embark Studios offers several incentives for completing Expeditions. Players get the exclusive Patchwork cosmetic skin and a janitor hat for Scrappy as permanent rewards. They also receive a small permanent boost to stash size and countdown points.
Temporary benefits include progression buffs during the next cycle and bonus skill points. These rewards aim to offset the loss of all progression and give players tangible reasons to start fresh.
Workbench Reset Sparks Community Backlash
Players who completed the first Expedition discovered their workbenches were fully reset, leaving only the starting bench available. The discovery created frustration since unlocking crafting stations takes significant time investment.
Embark's original information listed "Workshop" under the Reset category while showing "Unlocked Workshop Stations" under Retained. The studio later quietly removed "Unlocked Workshop Stations" from the Retained list. Some players pointed out the "Workshop" listing, but many expected crafting stations to survive based on the initial information.
Embark Studios is currently on holiday break with no official statement addressing the workbench situation. Players should expect workshops to reset fully when completing Expeditions, which might affect decisions about joining the February reset.
First Expedition Faced Delays
The current Expedition window arrived later than originally planned after Embark Studios delayed it. This history means the February 22 target could shift if development needs require changes. The two-month cycle creates a predictable rhythm for players, but delays remain possible.
What's Next for Players
ARC Raiders players have roughly two months to prepare for the second departure in late February, whether they're working on their second Expedition or still completing their first. The optional system lets players engage at their own pace without forced resets disrupting progress.
Anyone preferring to maintain current progression can keep playing normally. Players seeking the challenge and rewards of a fresh start can opt into the Expedition system when the window opens.
The workbench reset adds weight to that decision. Losing all crafting station progress on top of other resets increases the cost of participating in voluntary wipes. The February 22 reveal through both official timers and player-discovered exploits shows Embark has already built substantial second-season content into the client, even if it won't be accessible until the official release.
