ARC Raiders: The “5 Million Coin” Controversy Dividing the Community
If you’ve been grinding ARC Raiders, you’ve definitely heard the noise surrounding “Project Expedition.” This is Embark’s take on the extraction shooter “wipe,” but with a twist: it’s totally optional.
On paper, letting players choose whether to reset their progress sounds like a brilliant move to respect our time. But in practice? The community is pretty split, and honestly, the price of admission might be too high for the average raider.
Project Expedition: ARC Raiders Does Wipes Differently
In the extraction shooter genre, the “wipe” is practically a religion. Look at Escape From Tarkov: every six months or so, everyone gets reset to zero. It levels the playing field and keeps the hardcore economy from stagnating.
ARC Raiders is trying to soften that blow. Instead of a forced reset, we get Project Expedition. Roughly every two months, you can build a caravan and “leave” the world.
If you choose to do this, the consequence is the same as a Tarkov wipe: you lose your level, gear, skill points, and inventory. However, because it’s optional, Embark has to bribe us to do it.
Here is what you get for wiping:
- Exclusive cosmetics unavailable elsewhere.
- Various gameplay boosts (XP, repair speed).
- 12 extra storage slots (huge for hoarders).
- Up to 5 Free Skill Points (to jumpstart your new build).
📡 Attention, Raiders! After a minor delay in the tunnels, the Expedition departure window will open on Dec 17; this is your Raider’s chance to roll out in the Caravan you’ve built and leave the Rust Belt behind. Prepare to start a fresh new adventure with a brand new Raider, and…
— ARC Raiders (@ARCRaidersGame) December 6, 2025
The 5 Million Coin Controversy
Here is where the math gets ugly. To get those coveted 5 free Skill Points, you need to validate your Project Expedition with a total value of 5 million coins.
This value is calculated by combining your raw cash and the estimated value of your stash. The system works in tiers: 1 million value equals 1 skill point, 2 million gets you 2, and so on.
For many, 5 million is an absurd number. A frustrated user on Reddit summed it up perfectly: “I’m tired, boss…5 mil grind cost me my sanity.”
The real issue here is timing. Embark dropped the specific details on December 6th, leaving players only until mid-December to prepare. Before this info, the meta was to spend money on upgrades, not hoard it like a dragon. Telling us to save up after we’ve spent our fortunes? That stings.
“Naked Runs” and FOMO
There is another concern that honestly worries me more than the cash requirement: the “Stacking Boosts.”
The rewards for wiping include bonuses like +10% repair speed, +5% XP, and +6% bonus materials. Embark states these bonuses will increase for the next 3 expeditions if you chain them back-to-back.
This creates a fear of missing out (FOMO). If you don’t participate in the wipe, you might be mathematically weaker than players who do. This has already changed how people play:
Players are scared to lose gear value, so they are running “naked” (low/free gear).
The goal is to hoard wealth for the 5 million target, not to fight.
This ruins the PvP tension, as nobody wants to risk their high-value loot right before the deadline.
Embark Studios Addresses the Feedback
To their credit, Embark Studios knows this is a minefield. In their December 6th blog post, they admitted that “balancing progression resets is notoriously difficult.”
Their goal is to respect player investment, which is why the wipe remains optional. They are trying to find the sweet spot between a fresh start and persistent progress.
In my opinion, this first Project Expedition is going to be messy. The economy feels a bit off, and the notice was too short. But given Embark’s track record of listening to feedback, I’m optimistic they will tweak the numbers for the next cycle.
In Conclusion: Is the Reset Worth It?
If you have the 5 million value, the extra stash space and skill points are probably worth the reset. If not? Don’t burn yourself out trying to farm 4 million coins in a week.
What’s your strategy? Are you going to wipe your progress for the rewards, or are you keeping your gear and staying behind? Let us know in the comments!
A video game enthusiast ever since I first got my hands on a Game Boy. Over the years, I've played many different games across various genres, discovering hidden gems and niche titles along the way. I'm also passionate about technology, always up-to-date with the latest news and insight in the PC and Console market. Ready to share and bring you the latest news !
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