“Arc Raiders Expeditions May Not Always Reward Extra Skill Points or Require 5 Million Coins for Completion, Design Lead Confirms”

There was some initial confusion surrounding the launch of Arc Raiders’ first Expedition, particularly with the requirement of having 5 million coins in stash value to unlock the maximum bonus skill point payout. Players were uncertain about what was needed for a while, and then suddenly found themselves facing a significant goal to maximize their Expedition rewards. Design lead Virgil Watkins mentioned that the rewards and requirements for Expeditions are still flexible, with ongoing discussions about potential adjustments for future resets.

In a conversation, Watkins revealed that approximately 1 million players completed the first Expedition, with around 40 to 45% of them achieving the 5 million coin threshold. He emphasized that the rate of players completing the Expedition and opting for a soft reset is a crucial metric, as this initiative is essentially an experiment allowing players to decide when to reset their raiders and shape their own progression.

Watkins expressed curiosity about player engagement, asking whether they continue to interact with the game and if they are restarting and experiencing the game as intended. He acknowledged that the 5 million coin requirement may have been introduced a bit late, explaining that they were cautious to ensure it aligned with players’ actual economic situations. The goal was to set the requirement around the average player’s wealth and earning rate, making the full five skill points an aspirational target.

Embark is aware of the concerns regarding the pressure from the 5 million coin requirement. Watkins noted that some players felt compelled to meet this goal, leading to a mindset where they might limit their gameplay experience. He recognized that this could create a negative experience for players who felt they couldn’t play as they wanted.

“This system will evolve,” he stated. “We’re open to changes and will continue to adjust it to ensure it incentivizes players appropriately. We need to be cautious about the rewards and mechanics to avoid giving an unfair advantage to seasoned players over newcomers.”

When asked if the 5 million coin requirement is under review or if Embark might consider a different metric for future Expeditions, Watkins confirmed they are actively exploring options. He explained that the current mechanic was a practical choice made before launch, and they are looking into various criteria to enhance the system. More details will be shared once they finalize their plans.

Watkins also mentioned that the current focus is that skill points won’t be the permanent reward for Expeditions. There will be a cap at some point, and once players have completed enough Expeditions to earn the maximum skill points, they can expect some minor quality-of-life improvements.

He clarified that while they can track player aggression, the term “aggression-based matchmaking” is somewhat misleading, as they do not implement skill-based or gear-based matchmaking systems.