ARC Raiders Introduces voluntary progression wipes through the Expedition Project
ARC Raiders, the forthcoming extraction shooter from Embark Studios, has announced a new mechanic designed to let players control how their progress is reset. The Expedition Project is a recurring system that will be introduced at level 20 and, when completed, will trigger a progression reset. Unlike a mandatory global wipe, this approach gives players the option to reset on their own timeline, with the aim of respecting the time they’ve already invested in the game.
How the Expedition Project works
The Expedition Project operates on an eight-week cycle. During that period, players contribute toward a shared progression track. Once the cycle completes, a reset can be triggered. If players haven’t finished the expedition by the end of the window, their progress can be carried over into the next finalisation window. The net effect is a predictable, player-driven cadence for resets rather than an abrupt, universal wipe.
What actually gets wiped
When a progression reset occurs, core elements like character levels, skills, inventory, crafting capabilities, and other progress tied to development are wiped. Cosmetic items (earned and purchased), awards, and achievements, however, stay with the player. This distinction is central to ARC Raiders’ philosophy: you won’t lose the look of your account, but you may lose the in-game power typically associated with late-stage progression.
What players gain from completing a reset
To sweeten the deal, completing a reset provides permanent account unlocks, unique cosmetic rewards, and buffs that apply to the next Expedition cycle. The studio stresses that benefits will be carefully balanced to avoid giving players a raw power edge over those who haven’t reset. In practical terms, cosmetics and quality-of-life improvements are the initial emphasis, with potential future refinements as data rolls in from players’ experiences.
Why ARC Raiders is pursuing a time-respecting approach
Embark Studios says the goal is to value players’ time as much as the time spent inside ARC Raiders. The voluntary approach is designed to give high-commitment players a way to refresh the game’s economy and balance without penalising those with fewer hours to invest. The blog post from the studio emphasizes that a mandatory global wipe, while beneficial in some respects, does not account for players who can’t devote as much time to the game. The Expedition Project attempts to bridge that gap by offering a paced, opt-in path to progression resets.
What this means for the game’s life cycle
By introducing a voluntary system, ARC Raiders aims to extend the game’s longevity by promoting repetition and experimentation without crushing endgame activity. It’s a nuanced middle ground between the sweeping resets seen in other titles and the long-tailed grind that can deter newer players. Embark Studio’s plan is to keep progression meaningful and to prevent a hard stop on progression for players who can’t commit to a full reset at the same time as others.
What players can expect next
ARC Raiders will run a free public network test later this month as a precursor to its full release on October 30. This test will help the developers gather feedback on how the Expedition Project feels in practice and how players react to voluntary wipes integrated into the game’s progression loop.
In all, ARC Raiders’ Expedition Project represents a thoughtful attempt to balance fairness with player agency. By letting the community guide when resets occur and tying rewards to that cadence, Embark Studios is betting on a more inclusive progression model that aligns with a broader range of playstyles.
