Embark Studios has listened to the heavy criticism from players during the first "Expedition" (account reset) phase and made major changes for the second Arc Raiders expedition window. The tough "5 million Coin" reward requirements and the "dark pattern" mechanics that encouraged hoarding valuable items instead of using them have been completely revamped.

Here are the details of the new system announced on February 5, 2026 and launching on February 25:

Arc Raiders: Second Expedition & Reward Revolution

The developers acknowledged the feedback that "hoarding money takes away the fun" and not only reduced the requirements but also introduced a "catch-up" system for those who missed out.

Major Reward Requirement Reductions

Previously, each Skill Point required 1 million Coins, but this amount has been significantly lowered:

• New Target: The total stash value needed for a maximum of 5 Skill Points is now set at just 3 million Coins.

• Cost Per Point: Instead of 1 million Coins per point, you now only need 600,000 Coins per Skill Point.

Catch-Up Mechanism

For players who missed the first expedition or couldn't collect all points, a discounted compensation system is now available:

• Cheaper Skill Points: If you missed points in the first round, you can now claim them for just 300,000 Coins each.

• Total Point Potential: With this system, players joining the second expedition can reach up to 85 Skill Points in total.

Second Expedition Rewards and Buffs

Joining the expedition brings not only points but also a range of permanent and temporary advantages:

• Permanent Stash Space: Stash capacity is increased from 12 to 24 slots.

• Cosmetics: The "Patchwork" outfit evolves with new color options and add-ons, while the new "Scrappy" outfit is added to the lineup.

• Stacking Buffs: Players who join expeditions back-to-back get a 10% XP bonus, 12% Scrappy material bonus, and a 70% increase in repair value.

Key Dates