ARC Raiders pushes Expedition window to December 17 with Caravan departure now December 22

ARC Raiders players were told on December 6, 2025 that Embark Studios is delaying the next Expedition departure window by two days, moving the window to December 17 through December 22 and setting Caravan departures for December 22. The studio posted the change in an ARC Raiders tweet that began with “Attention, Raiders” and tipped the revised schedule. Embark added further context in a developer blog post that explains the reason for the shift and what players can expect from the event.

📡 Attention, Raiders!
After a minor delay in the tunnels, the Expedition departure window will open on Dec 17; this is your Raider’s chance to roll out in the Caravan you’ve built and leave the Rust Belt behind.
Prepare to start a fresh new adventure with a brand new Raider, and…

— ARC Raiders (@ARCRaidersGame) December 6, 2025

Embark confirmed the Expedition will wipe a raider’s session progress when they depart. That wipe covers blueprints, the skill tree, level, stash, workshop, and crafting abilities. The blog post says permanent progress items will carry over, including additional inventory slots, XP boosts, and any earned skill points. The Expedition is explicitly framed as a fresh start for a new Raider and a chance to leave the Rust Belt with the Caravan players build. The updated window replaces an earlier plan that would have opened on December 15 and led to departures on December 20.

Time to start a new adventure?

Why did you become a Raider?

Perhaps Speranza has always been too small for you. Maybe it’s the thrill of danger, the feel of fresh air on your skin, or the promise of wealth that’s only available Topside.

Whatever your reason, all Raiders share one thing in common: the spirit of adventure.

The Expedition Project

The Expedition hit a minor delay, and the window will now open on 17th December. You will have a six-day period in which your Raider can choose to leave The Rust Belt for good. By departing in the Caravan you have constructed in the Expedition Project, you will restart your journey with certain buffs and advantages. We want to take you through some of these here.

So, you’re leaving Speranza?

When the Expedition departs, all items in your Raider’s stash will be contributed toward it. Your next Raider can earn up to five skill points based on the total value of your Stash and Coins at the time of departure. One million Coins worth of value equals one extra skill point for your new Raider.

When you restart, everything tied to your progress will be reset. This means your Skill Tree, Level, Stash, Workshop, Crafting Abilities, and Blueprints. It’s worth noting that the initial onboarding from your first deployment in Speranza will be skipped – that means all maps and potential workshop upgrades will be available as soon as you reset.

Your new Raider won’t totally restart at square one. By resetting, you will unlock the following advantages and rewards:

Permanent Unlocks:

The Patchwork Raider outfit

Scrappy Janitor Cap

Expeditions Indicator icon

Skill points (depending on Stash value)

+12 Stash space

Temporary Buffs:

10% repair buff

5% xp boost

6% more materials from Scrappy

While Skill Points, extra Stash space, and cosmetics are permanent unlocks, the account buffs will expire if you choose not to depart with the subsequent expedition. Bear in mind, buffs will increase in power for your next three expeditions (but only one departure allowed per Expedition Window!).

Remember, the Expedition Window will be open from 17th December and last until 22nd December. You must sign up during this period, and everyone automatically departs at the same time on the 22nd.

The value of your Stash and Coins will be counted when the window closes – so don’t stop looting before then. If you choose not to depart this time around, don’t worry – your progress toward building a Caravan will be preserved, so you can keep working on it until the next window opens in a couple of months.

Why are we doing it like this?

Progression wipes are a notoriously difficult thing to balance in online multiplayer games – we get that. Mandatory global wipes have some obvious benefits: heavily invested players get to re-experience the initial grind once again and, for a time, the playing field is levelled.

The optional Expedition Project is our solution to some of the problems that inevitably arise with mandatory wipes – specifically, by respecting your time investment in the game. We want to offer you the choice:

Not completed as much as you’d like? Keep on raiding, building, and growing. Ready for a new challenge and to grind once again? Depart on the Expedition, and receive buffs, rewards, and bragging rights.

Community discussion about the event is already active, with players weighing whether to join the departure and gamble progress for new items. If players need a refresher on how progression and stash mechanics have worked in previous Expedition-related updates, consolepcgaming has ongoing coverage of ARC Raiders changes and community responses. Join the conversation about ARC Raiders, leave a comment, and follow coverage on X, Bluesky, and YouTube to stay updated on Expedition plans and player reactions.