Embark Studios has officially marked the next major milestone in ARC Raiders. A new in-game countdown shows that the second “Expedition” window is set for February 22. This detail is visible to players who have engaged with the game’s unique progression system. It establishes a roughly two-month rhythm for the shooter’s seasonal cycles. While the timer serves as a deadline for active projects, it also highlights the developer’s different approach to the reset culture that usually defines the extraction genre.
Unlike competitors like Escape from Tarkov, where player progress is forcibly wiped to keep things fair, ARC Raiders treats its resets as a choice. Players who complete their seasonal objectives can choose to “depart” on an Expedition. This resets their character level and gear in exchange for permanent prestige rewards. Those who opted to reset during the initial window received exclusive benefits, such as the Patchwork Raider outfit, extra stash space, and bonus skill points. At the same time, players who felt unready were allowed to keep their progress and continue working toward the next departure date.
However, the transition into the first Expedition has not gone smoothly. A significant issue has come up regarding Workshop stations. Many players entered the reset believing their unlocked crafting workbenches would be preserved, a belief supported by early UI descriptions. Since the reset, community reports indicate that all but the starting bench have been locked again. With Embark currently on a holiday break, it remains uncertain whether this was a deliberate design change or a technical mistake. This leaves many veterans cautious about committing to the February window until the issue is resolved.
Beyond the countdown, the community has started to uncover what the second season might entail. Technical fans found that by adjusting system clocks, they could view internal calendar events, including mentions of a “Toxic Swamp” map condition. This suggests that the February 22 update may include significant environmental hazards and map changes. For now, the player base is divided. While the appeal of permanent cosmetics and skill buffs is strong, the high cost of rebuilding a fully upgraded Workshop may be too steep for those considering the February departure.
