No Wipes Explained in ARC Raiders

When you hear “extraction shooter,” you probably think of seasonal wipes—forced resets every few months.
But Arc Raiders has other plans. The game is currently set to launch without mandatory wipes.

Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Let’s break down what it means, the upsides, the risks, and whether a prestige system could be the best middle ground.

Why Wipes Exist in Extraction Games

• Hardcore excitement: Fresh resets bring high tension and a rush of competition.
• Economic control: Wipes stop inflation, preventing stockpiles of gear and endless currency.
• Fresh starts: Everyone races to rebuild from scratch together.

But wipes also feel punishing to many players—erasing months of progress before it truly matters. That’s a big reason some players avoid extraction games altogether.

Arc Raiders’ Approach: No Wipes

Arc Raiders wants to respect player time:

• Your account moves forward. Progress isn’t tied to a seasonal calendar.
• Loot you gather stays. What you grind for matters long-term.
• Casuals included. Players who can’t commit full-time still see lasting progress.

This design seems aimed at balancing hardcore and casual audiences, a tricky goal other studios have struggled with.

Prestige as a Possible Middle Ground

The community has discussed a prestige system as an alternative:

• Players could choose to reset progress voluntarily.
• Rewards could include:
  • Cosmetics.
  • Accountwide perks.
  • Exclusive vendor access.

This system would:

1. Respect time (no forced resets).
2. Allow hardcore players to restart by choice.
3. Keep raids tense without deleting everyone’s progress.

The Challenges of No Wipes

Permanent progression introduces risks:

• Economic inflation. Players stockpile so much that loot losses don’t hurt.
• Tension drop. If everyone is stacked with gear, raids feel less dangerous.

To counter this, Arc Raiders will need gear sinks and tension systems, such as:

• Rare consumables like hatch keys.
• Rotating trader stock.
• High-risk loot zones.
• Systems that lure geared players into danger.

Why Prestige Needs to Feel Worth It

Prestige only works if the rewards truly matter:

• Cosmetics alone won’t motivate most players.
• Accountwide perks, exclusive vendors, or meaningful progression paths would.
• Without strong rewards, the economy still inflates and tension collapses.

Final Thoughts

No wipes could be a bold step forward for the extraction genre. If supported with strong economy control and optional prestige, Arc Raiders might achieve the best of both worlds:

• Casual-friendly progression without erasing time invested.
• Hardcore excitement through voluntary resets and meaningful rewards.

What do you think? Should Arc Raiders stick with no wipes at all, or experiment with a prestige path? Drop your thoughts in the comments and hit subscribe for more deep dives.