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when does arc raiders wipe

ARC Raiders doesn’t do classic, global, Tarkov‑style “everyone gets wiped on X date” resets anymore; instead it uses an optional, cyclical wipe system tied to the Expedition Project.

Quick Scoop: When does ARC Raiders wipe?

  • The game runs in 8‑week Expedition cycles.
  • During weeks 1–7 you just play normally, progress your character, and work on the Expedition Project.
  • Week 8 is the “finalization window” (reset window) , where you can choose to trigger an Expedition reset on your account.
  • One documented finalization window ran from December 15–20 , with the actual departure/reset happening together at the end of that window for those who opted in.

So, “when ARC Raiders wipes” is: every Expedition cycle, in the week‑8 reset window, and only if you choose to opt into the Expedition reset.

In other words: there is no forced seasonal wipe date for everyone; wipes are tied to Expedition cycles and are player‑triggered within the dev‑defined window.

How the Expedition wipe works

  • At about level 20 you unlock the Expedition Project in your Raider tab. Completing it gives you the option to perform a reset for a fresh start run.
  • You can finalize your Expedition only in that week‑8 window (for example Dec 15–20). Once finalized, your reset gets queued for the shared departure date at the end of the window.
  • One Reddit reply clarifies that everyone who chooses to depart is actually reset together on the departure day (e.g., the 22nd in that cycle), so it doesn’t matter if you click Departure earlier in the window.

What you keep vs. lose

Exact details can shift by patch, but current info says Expedition resets:

  • Grant permanent account unlocks and exclusive cosmetics tied to the cycle.
  • Give temporary account buffs for the next 8‑week cycle, stackable over multiple resets but capped and not meant to be a direct combat edge.
  • Cost you your current character progression (fresh‑start style), while some wider account progress persists.

A community guide even describes the system as “officially voluntary but practically mandatory every 2nd season” if you care about staying competitive, because of added stash slots and skill points from resets.

Is there a global, forced wipe?

  • Developers have explicitly said they do not plan mandatory wipes that reset everyone at once.
  • The whole Expedition system exists specifically so players who enjoy fresh starts can opt in without forcing seasonal wipes on the entire population.
  • Some players still debate whether ARC Raiders “needs” traditional wipes, but that’s opinion and not the current design.

Example timeline (based on known cycle)

  • Weeks 1–7: Play, level, work on Expedition.
  • Week 8 (e.g., Dec 15–20): Finalization window opens; you can finalize Expedition and queue your reset.
  • Departure day (e.g., Dec 22): All players who finalized are wiped together and start their next‑cycle fresh character with carried‑over rewards/buffs.

Forum/Community chatter

Players on Reddit and forums are:

  • Arguing whether a mostly “no‑wipe” philosophy is better than classic seasonal wipes.
  • Noting that while the system is technically voluntary , competitive players may feel pressured to reset regularly for stash and progression advantages.
  • Asking detailed timing questions like “If I hit Departure on the 16th, do I wipe then or on the 22nd?”, with answers confirming the shared departure reset.

TL;DR:
ARC Raiders doesn’t have a fixed global wipe date; it runs 8‑week Expedition cycles, and optional wipes happen in the week‑8 finalization window, with everyone who opted in resetting together on the departure day for that cycle.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.