Voluntary Wipes in ARC Raiders: Developers Respect Players Time with New Progress Reset System

In games similar to ARC Raiders, a mandatory wipe system is often implemented. This is designed to level the playing field for gamers, especially at the beginning of a new season. However, Embark Studios has opted to propose a different approach — a voluntary progress reset known as “Project: Expedition.”

While the developers acknowledge the benefits of mandatory wipes, they also recognize that such a system can disregard players’ personal time, particularly for those who cannot dedicate as much attention to gaming as they might like.

Therefore, Embark introduced the “Project: Expedition” system, which will be accessible in the full version of the game. Upon reaching level 20, players can undertake their first “project,” and upon its completion, they can choose to reset their character’s progress. This can be repeated after completing another similar “project.” Over time, an increasing number of projects will be added through updates, holiday events, and various occasions, each differing in scale and reward offerings.

“Project: Expedition” will be organized into an eight-week cycle. During this period, raiders will gather experience and advance within their “project.” At the beginning of the eighth week, players will have the opportunity to complete the project, which will be available for the entire week.

If players manage to complete all necessary project stages, they can finish the “Expedition” during this time. However, if they don’t, their progress will still be preserved, allowing them to continue their “project” in the next cycle.

What does a voluntary wipe entail? It will reset character levels, skills, inventory, crafting options, and all other aspects tied to game progression. However, cosmetic items (both earned and purchased), rewards, achievements, and similar elements will remain intact. After a reset, players will have the option to skip most tutorial stages and directly unlock certain features, maps, and more in the early stages of gameplay.

But why implement a progress reset in ARC Raiders? As emphasized by the developers, upon finishing a “project,” players receive permanent upgrades, unique cosmetic rewards, and temporary boosts for the next cycle of the “Expedition.” Importantly, Embark aimed to ensure that wipes do not pressure users.

With the introduction of “projects,” the developers hope to achieve two goals with one initiative: regular players can enjoy fresh experiences by starting anew and earning bonuses, while those with less free time won’t lose their progress without consent and can continue at their own pace.

Players can confront mysterious robots in ARC Raiders from October 17 to 19 during an open stress test. The event will be available on all supported platforms. The full release is scheduled for October 30 for PC (Steam, Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series with Russian subtitles.