ARC Raiders features an unusual progression system called the Expedition Project, which gives players the option to reset their progress every eight weeks. This voluntary wipe system has sparked ongoing debate within the community, as players weigh the excitement of starting fresh against the pain of losing hard-earned gear. The decision is entirely player-driven, making the emotional outcome—satisfaction or regret—depend heavily on playstyle and expectations buy ARC Raiders coins.
The Expedition Project becomes available after reaching level 20 and runs on an eight-week cycle. During most of that period, players continue progressing as normal while preparing for the final commitment window in the last week. Choosing to participate triggers a full reset of core progression, including player level, inventory, blueprints, gear, and crafting progress. In return, certain elements persist across wipes, such as cosmetics, achievements, rankings, and newly earned account-wide bonuses. These rewards can include extra experience gain, increased stash capacity, scrappy materials, and additional skill points calculated from the value of the committed stash. Importantly, there are no forced server-wide resets, allowing players to skip Expeditions entirely and keep everything they have.
For many players, wiping brings genuine enjoyment. Starting from zero restores the tense, high-stakes feeling that defines extraction shooters, where every item matters and early raids feel meaningful again. Wipes also level the playing field, reducing the gap between long-time veterans and returning or mid-tier players. Exclusive cosmetics and permanent account buffs turn short-term loss into long-term progression, giving hardcore Raiders a sense of achievement that extends beyond a single cycle. Community reactions during early Expeditions showed that for these players, the reset itself is part of the fun, driving experimentation and new strategies.
Others, however, find the experience frustrating or disappointing. Casual players, newcomers, and completionists often struggle with the idea of losing hours of progress, especially if they are still unlocking maps, trials, or core systems. Discussions across community forums have questioned whether the long-term rewards are worth the sacrifice, particularly when bonuses can seem modest if future Expeditions are skipped. The first Expedition window in December 2025 intensified this dilemma, as fear of missing out pushed some players to reset while others chose to protect their progress and avoid the risk of regret.
In the end, happiness with the Expedition wipe system comes down to mindset. Hardcore players who enjoy challenge and long-term optimization tend to embrace wipes as part of the game’s identity. Casual players often prefer stability and steady accumulation, finding satisfaction in simply opting out. ARC Raiders balances both approaches by making wipes optional, turning them into a personal choice rather than an obligation. This flexibility strengthens replayability while respecting different playstyles, ensuring that whether a wipe feels rewarding or regrettable depends entirely on how each Raider chooses to play.
