Arc Raiders switches up Expeditions and now skill points are earned from damage dealt, not stash value
Arc Raiders developer Embark Studios is overhauling its Expedition progression system with the next Expedition Window launching on April 28th. The major change shifts how players earn Skill Points—previously acquired through gathering stash value and coins, players will now earn them exclusively through dealing damage during the five-day event window.
The studio acknowledged that “grinding for monetary value isn’t the most exciting experience,” positioning this change as an effort to make the progression system more engaging. Under the new mechanics, all players work toward earning five Skill Points through damage dealt, regardless of whether it’s their first, second, or third expedition. This standardization applies universally across the player base, ensuring consistent progression paths.
The shift represents a meaningful departure from Arc Raiders’ previous progression mechanics, moving focus away from resource accumulation toward active combat participation. By tying progression directly to offensive gameplay rather than loot collection, Embark Studios aims to emphasize player engagement and playstyle over grinding for in-game currency. This update exemplifies the studio’s ongoing refinement of its live-service model, continually adjusting seasonal content systems based on player feedback.