Arc Raiders is adding a new layer of progression with the Expedition Project, and developer Virgil has gone into detail about how wipes, resets, and voluntary restarts will work. This system aims to balance fresh content cycles with respect for player time, while giving hardcore players new incentives to dive back in every few weeks.
Voluntary Resets in Arc Raiders
Virgil, the design director at Embark Studios, confirmed that Arc Raiders will not feature mandatory wipes. Instead, players can opt into voluntary resets through the Expedition Project system. This structure allows those who enjoy starting fresh to do so while letting others continue their progress uninterrupted.
The reasoning behind this approach is simple: not every player has the same amount of time to play. A forced global reset might reset the economy and create parity, but it risks alienating those who play casually. The Expedition Project ensures both sides get what they want—a chance to start anew or continue evolving.
How the Expedition Project Works
The Arc Raiders Expedition Project becomes available at level 20. Each cycle lasts roughly eight weeks, giving players time to complete its stages before finalizing the reset in the last week of the cycle. If someone misses the finalization window, their progress carries over to the next one—no loss of effort.
Players who complete the Expedition Project can reset their character’s progress, losing levels, items, skills, and crafting capabilities. However, they’ll retain achievements, cosmetics, and any content tied to real-money purchases. The goal is to refresh gameplay without erasing investments that represent actual value or effort.
Rewards and Incentives for Resets
Resetting progress in Arc Raiders isn’t just about replaying content—it comes with real benefits. Completing an Expedition Project can grant unique cosmetics, permanent account unlocks, and temporary buffs that last through the next expedition cycle. These buffs increase in magnitude with consecutive completions, up to a limit.
Virgil clarified that none of these bonuses will create power imbalances. Instead, they focus on quality-of-life improvements and cosmetics. This ensures that participation in the Expedition Project feels rewarding without punishing players who prefer to stick with their progress.
Respecting Player Time and Regional Pricing
Embark Studios emphasized a player-first philosophy—respecting time investment just as much as monetary value. Many modern games assume players have endless hours to grind, but Arc Raiders aims to create an experience that values every player’s pace.
In addition to gameplay updates, Embark has also adjusted regional pricing across several markets. Many countries saw price reductions of 25–35%, while others like South Africa are still awaiting updates. Players who already purchased the game in adjusted regions will receive refunds automatically.
The open network test, or “server slam,” runs from October 17 to 19, open to all on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. While progress won’t carry over, participants will earn an exclusive in-game backpack. Standard pre-orders are priced at $39.99, with the Deluxe Edition at $59.99, including 2400 Raiders Tokens—roughly equivalent to a $20 bonus.
Arc Raiders’ Expedition Project seems designed to evolve over time, shaped by player feedback and testing. The focus on voluntary resets, fair incentives, and respect for both time and money sets a strong foundation for the game’s upcoming launch.
