ARC Raiders embraces a new approach to progression with voluntary wipes
ARC Raiders, the forthcoming extraction shooter from Embark Studios, is experimenting with a different philosophy for player progression. Rather than forcing a global, mandatory reset, the studio is introducing a voluntary system known as the Expedition Project. The goal is to balance fresh starts with respect for players’ time and ongoing investments in the game.
What is the Expedition Project?
According to Embark Studios, the Expedition Project is a recurring eight-week cycle that lets players contribute toward a progression reset at their own pace. The full game will unlock the Expedition Project at level 20, and participation is designed to be optional. If players complete the Expedition cycle, they receive rewards that persist into future playthroughs. If they don’t complete it, their progress can still roll over into the next finalisation window.
Crucially, a progression reset in ARC Raiders wipes character levels, skills, inventory, crafting capabilities, and other progress tied to gameplay advancement. Cosmetics, earned or purchased, along with achievements and awards, remain intact. This separation between core power and cosmetic/achievement-based rewards is central to the studio’s intent.
Rewards and safeguards: keeping it fair
Embark’s messaging emphasizes a careful approach to benefits. Completing a reset should not grant a combat edge over players who choose not to reset. In the early stages, rewards will focus on cosmetics, quality-of-life improvements, and other non-powerful bonuses that smooth progression for those who opt into a reset.
In practice, this means that players who participate in the Expedition Project can unlock permanent account features and unique cosmetics that carry forward to future cycles. The intention is to provide incentive for engagement without creating an unbalanced environment where some players feel compelled to reset to stay competitive.
Time value and community feedback
ARC Raiders’ approach seeks to address a common grievance around traditional wipes: their timing and the heavy emphasis on endgame grind. By offering a voluntary option, Embark hopes to avoid penalising players who cannot invest as much time while still giving dedicated players a path to a fresh experience.
The studio acknowledges the complexity of the topic and pledges to monitor community discussion as the Expedition Project unfolds. The balance between equity, longevity, and player satisfaction will likely shape how aggressively the system evolves in updates and future seasons.
What this means for players at launch and beyond
ARC Raiders is slated for a full release on October 30, with a free public network test planned later in the month. For players, the Expedition Project represents a new dimension of progression management—one that respects both the value of time spent in the game and the desire for meaningful, but non-disruptive, resets.
In practical terms, players can anticipate cycles that require cooperation across the community to complete eight-week goals, while still allowing individual play styles to prosper. Cosmetic unlocks and bragging rights will serve as visible markers of achievement for those who participate, while non-participants won’t be disadvantaged when it comes to core gameplay.
The broader context in the shooter genre
Voluntary progression wipes are not entirely new in the shooter landscape. Games like Escape from Tarkov have employed wipes at various times, and Bungie faced backlash over a mandated power reset tied to a forthcoming expansion. ARC Raiders’ Expedition Project sits in between these approaches: a structured, opt-in mechanism that aims to preserve inclusivity and fairness while preserving the long-term vitality of the game.
As players dive into ARC Raiders’ network test and eventually the full game, the community will be watching how these voluntary resets influence pacing, economy stability, and player retention. If successful, the Expedition Project could become a blueprint for how extraction shooters manage progression while honoring time invested by veterans and newcomers alike.
