Embark Studios, the Stockholm-based developer led by former Electronic Arts executive Patrick Söderlund, has announced a significant shift in the progression mechanics for its highly anticipated extraction shooter, Arc Raiders. As the studio prepares for its next "Expedition Window" scheduled to launch on April 28, developers have confirmed a fundamental change to how players earn Skill Points, moving away from the traditional "stash value" metric in favor of a combat-oriented system. This decision marks a pivotal moment in the game’s development, reflecting a broader effort to prioritize active engagement and tactical freedom over the repetitive gathering of in-game currency.
The upcoming Expedition Window, which serves as a limited-time playtest and progression event, will introduce a damage-based objective system. According to an official technical update released by Embark Studios, Skill Points will now be awarded based on the total damage dealt by players over the course of the five-day event. This replaces the previous system where progression was tethered to the monetary value of items successfully extracted and stored in a player’s stash. The studio’s leadership noted that this change is intended to discourage "hoarding" and instead incentivize players to utilize their best gear in active combat scenarios.
New Progression Mechanics and Damage Objectives
Under the revised system, players must deal damage to enemies or rival Raiders to secure all five available Skill Points during the window. This requirement remains consistent regardless of whether a player is embarking on their first, second, or third Expedition. Embark Studios has clarified that damage can be dealt using any weapon or gadget currently available in the game’s arsenal. While the practice range remains a safe zone for testing equipment, damage dealt there will not count toward the Skill Point objectives.
The developers emphasized that this shift is a direct response to player feedback regarding the "monetary grind" often associated with the extraction genre. By decoupling Skill Points from stash value, the studio aims to provide "more freedom and variety" in how players approach each match. In the previous iteration, players often felt compelled to avoid high-risk encounters to protect high-value loot necessary for progression. The new system encourages a more aggressive and dynamic playstyle, as players are rewarded for their efficiency in combat rather than their ability to play as a "pacifist looter."
The Stash Value Catch-Up Mechanic
Despite the move toward damage-based progression, the concept of "stash value" has not been entirely removed from the game’s ecosystem. Embark Studios has retained a currency-based catch-up mechanic for veteran players who may have missed Skill Points in previous Expedition Windows. However, there is a specific order of operations that must be followed. Players returning for their second or third Expedition must first complete the primary damage challenge for the current window before the catch-up mechanic becomes accessible.
Once the damage challenge is satisfied, players can unlock missed Skill Points at a rate of 300,000 coins (or equivalent stash value) per point. This dual-layered system ensures that while active combat is the primary driver of growth, players with significant accumulated wealth still have a pathway to bridge the gap if they were unable to participate in earlier testing phases. It also serves as a "sink" for the game’s economy, preventing inflation and ensuring that high-tier players have a reason to continue seeking out valuable resources.
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Official Timeline and Access Requirements
The upcoming Expedition Window is strictly time-limited, reflecting Embark’s strategy of focused, high-intensity testing periods. The window is set to open at 12:00 PM UK time (1:00 PM CEST / 4:00 AM PT) on April 28. It will remain active for precisely five days, concluding at 8:00 AM UK time (9:00 AM CEST / 12:00 AM PT) on May 4.
To participate, players must meet specific prerequisites. Access is granted to those who have completed their "Caravan"—the game’s central meta-progression hub where players manage resources and upgrades. While the Caravan can be progressed and completed at any time between events, the actual "Expedition" and the associated Skill Point rewards can only be finalized during these scheduled departure windows. Embark has warned that simply completing the Caravan does not constitute an automatic sign-up; players must actively register for the Expedition within the five-day timeframe to be eligible for the new damage-based rewards.
Strategic Shift: From Free-to-Play to Premium Extraction
The changes to the Skill Point system arrive amidst a broader evolution for Arc Raiders. Originally revealed as a free-to-play cooperative third-person shooter, the project underwent a significant identity shift during development. Embark Studios eventually announced that the game would pivot to a premium, $40 extraction shooter model. This transition was driven by the team’s desire to create a more focused, high-stakes experience that rewards tactical decision-making and survival.
In the extraction shooter sub-genre—currently dominated by titles like Escape from Tarkov and Hunt: Showdown—the balance between progression and "gear fear" is a constant struggle for developers. Embark’s decision to move toward damage-based Skill Points suggests a move toward a more "action-forward" extraction experience, similar to the fast-paced combat seen in their other major title, The Finals. By rewarding damage, the studio is signaling that while survival is the goal, interaction and mechanical skill are the primary metrics of a successful Raider.
Technical Enhancements and Player Tools
In conjunction with the progression overhaul, Embark Studios has introduced new tools to assist players in navigating the hostile world of Arc Raiders. Last week, the studio launched a real-time "Map Conditions Tracker" on the official website. This tool allows players to monitor environmental hazards, enemy density, and atmospheric conditions across the game’s various zones.
The tracker provides both current data and a forecast for the coming hours, allowing teams to plan their deployments based on specific environmental variables. This level of transparency is rare in the genre and is expected to become a cornerstone of the game’s competitive meta. Players can filter results by specific maps or condition types, such as "Heavy Fog" or "High ARC Activity," which significantly alter visibility and combat difficulty.
Market Context and Emerging Competition
The refinement of Arc Raiders comes at a time of increased competition within the extraction shooter market. Recent industry reports suggest that Epic Games is currently developing a Disney-themed extraction shooter, reportedly utilizing the Fortnite engine and featuring iconic Disney characters in a high-stakes survival environment. Furthermore, established franchises like Call of Duty and upcoming titles like Bungie’s Marathon reboot are all vying for dominance in the space.
Embark Studios, however, maintains a unique technical advantage. Built on Unreal Engine 5, Arc Raiders features advanced physics and destruction systems that have become a hallmark of the studio’s Swedish development pedigree. Many of the lead developers at Embark are veterans of the Battlefield franchise, and their expertise in creating large-scale, immersive environments is evident in the visual fidelity and mechanical depth of Arc Raiders.
Implications for the Player Base
The shift to damage-based Skill Points is likely to be met with approval from the game’s more competitive community members, who have expressed concerns that a purely loot-based system rewards "ratting"—a term used to describe players who hide and avoid combat to secure items. By mandating damage dealing, Embark ensures that players must engage with the world and its threats to grow in power.
However, this change also raises questions about the difficulty curve for solo players versus organized squads. Dealing significant damage is naturally easier for a coordinated team with diverse gadgets and weaponry. As the April 28 window approaches, the community will be watching closely to see how the damage thresholds are tuned and whether solo Raiders can keep pace with the progression of larger groups.
Future Outlook
As Arc Raiders moves toward a full commercial release, these Expedition Windows serve as critical stress tests for both the game’s infrastructure and its core gameplay loop. The move to prioritize fun over "endless grind" is a bold statement from Embark Studios, suggesting a commitment to a player-first philosophy.
With the premium price point and the shift in progression mechanics, Arc Raiders is positioning itself as a more accessible yet mechanically deep alternative to the often punishingly difficult extraction shooters currently on the market. The success of the April 28 window will likely determine the final polish of the progression system as the game nears its 2025 launch window on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. For now, the message from Stockholm is clear: in the world of Arc Raiders, it is no longer enough to simply survive and scavenge—one must be prepared to fight.
