23 December 2025

ARC Raiders Expedition Cutscene Has Players Asking Questions

By newsgame

ARC Raiders‘ first wipe ends with a unique cutscene that’s supposed to show players how the Expedition Project concludes, though it has since become a source of confusion and wild theories within the community. For those unfamiliar, ARC Raiders utilizes a voluntary wipe system centered around challenging missions known as Projects. Players who complete these missions can depart Speranza and start the game with a new raider, gaining some permanent and temporary benefits on their accounts. The first Expedition launched on December 22, and its accompanying cutscene has now become a hot topic.

There are currently hundreds of reports from players claiming that ARC Raiders‘ Expedition Project cutscene was glitched or randomly skipped on their accounts, with no way to rewatch it. This is especially disappointing because, while the cutscene itself is the same for every player, it ends with a set of stats unique to each ARC Raiders player, almost like a seasonal wrap-up. Those who were able to watch the cutscene without issues, however, are facing a different problem.

Does Arc Raiders Actually Have a Storyline?

On the surface, ARC Raiders doesn’t appear to have much of a story, but players who peel back the layers will find a fascinating narrative structure.

Fans Think the ARC Raiders’ Expedition Has Some Plot Holes

On December 22, the first batch of players who took part in ARC Raiders‘ voluntary wipe departed Speranza with a final cutscene that opens with the departing raider saying goodbye to their beloved rooster pet, Scrappy. It then shows the departure procedure and ends with the raider walking away from what appears to be a crashed caravan, carrying only a small bag of resources. While the short cutscene may not sound particularly strange on paper, it includes several elements that might feel unexplainable based on what players currently know about the game’s lore.

Some Player Questions About ARC Raiders’ Expedition Cutscene

With all the resources poured into the Expedition, why is the raider carrying only a small bag at the end?
Raiders travel all over Speranza with no issue, so why did the Expedition with all of its resources and prep end up crashing in the middle of nowhere?
Why did players have to build a separate caravan if it’s the exact same device used for every other raid?
What was the point of this project if it ended up being largely the same as a normal raid?
If there’s a tube leading to the Expedition site, why don’t raiders go there regularly like the other game locations?
If players are not taking Scrappy with them, why does the next raider need to upgrade the chicken from scratch?

The biggest question among ARC Raiders players who completed the Expedition Project revolves around its logic. From what the cutscene shows, players invested a huge amount of resources into creating a device that could only carry them so far before crashing. When their device did crash, they simply grabbed a small bag of resources and set off toward an unclear destination. For those familiar with ARC Raiders‘ lore, this entire plan comes across more like a suicide mission than a true “Expedition Project.”

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Possible Answers to All of These Questions

Viewed as the ultimate goal of the people of Speranza, the Expedition Project might seem like a major failure. After all, the raiders appear to have been sent on a rushed mission with no clear plan or objective. But perhaps this wasn’t the raiders’ true goal. One theory suggests that these departing raiders are the first wave of explorers searching for potential new settlements or other survivors who could connect with Speranza and join the resistance. Seen from this perspective, the Expedition Project starts to make a lot more sense.

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Since Speranza’s caravans are limited and all are used for raids, starting an expedition would require a new device, which explains why players had to build a new caravan. It also clarifies why this particular tunnel route had never been used before: Speranza simply didn’t have the resources to invest in scouting and expeditions until players gathered enough. From this perspective, it also makes sense why the raider appeared to have no specific destination and just wandered off; they were simply hoping to discover something useful and come back with good news.

Of course, this Marco Polo–style interpretation of ARC Raiders‘ first wipe could answer many questions. But it still doesn’t fully explain issues like Scrappy being reset despite being left behind and thus being the same chicken. Players seeking more concrete answers may have to wait until developer Embark Studios reveals more of Speranza’s lore, as it has done before. Perhaps the next departure project in ARC Raiders will finally shed light on what the raiders are really up to and what their true goal is with these demanding missions.