Embark Studios is planning some significant changes to Arc Raiders' skill trees. Design director Virgil Watkins recently said the team is looking at "pretty significant changes" to make the system fit the game better, admitting that the current setup hasn't quite hit the mark and that some skills aren't serving their intended purpose  https://www.rsvsr.com/arc-raiders-items - ARC Raiders Items .

This isn't a sudden shift but part of an ongoing process to tweak progression systems. Earlier reports noted that the studio has been considering a revamp of the skill tree and Expedition reset structure, especially as more players reach endgame and max out their progression. The goal now seems to be more than just balance tweaks—it's about rethinking how progression, resets, and build identity all work together.

Watkins pointed out that the current skill tree is trying to do too much at once. It offers small stat boosts while also trying to define playstyles, like stealthy looters or highly mobile combatants. The problem is that some choices feel too minor to matter, while others are too powerful to ignore, which makes certain branches feel clearly better than others.

That's an important issue because Arc Raiders is built around player expression through loadouts, augments, gadgets, weapons, and risk-reward choices. If the skill tree pushes everyone toward the same "best" paths, it limits that flexibility. The aim is to make the tree support different playstyles so that choices feel meaningful without being mandatory or unfair.

The timing of this discussion matches changes to Expeditions, the game's progression-reset system. Embark has adjusted how players earn extra skill points, moving away from stash value and coins toward damage-based objectives and a wider trial structure. This is meant to encourage more active play and make the reset loop feel less tied to pure accumulation.

The studio is asking bigger questions than "which perks need buffs?"—it's looking at how progression should feel in a live extraction shooter where build choices, pacing, and player behavior all interact. Skill points will still matter, but their impact may change considerably in upcoming patches  https://www.rsvsr.com/arc-raiders-coins - ARC Raiders Coins buy . While final details aren't out yet, it's clear the goal is a system that's more balanced, expressive, and better suited to how the game is played today.