What is a Wipe In Star Citizen?

A "wipe" is a reset (complete removal of data) in at least one of the databases that are used to store player progress, items, credits, and more in Star Citizen.

Star Citizen 3.24.3 released on 20 November 2024 with a Database Reset, the least impactful type of Star Citizen wipe. The last time Star Citizen had a more impactful wipe was in May 2024 when Star Citizen 3.23.0 released with a full credit wipe, partial reputation wipe, and Database Reset.

The Star Citizen developers announced that there will be a full Long Term Persistence and Reputation Wipe when Star Citizen 4.0 releases in December 2024 or first quarter (January-March) 2025. This will be the first Long Term Persistence and Reputation wipe for Star Citizen since Star Citizen 3.18.2 released in April 2023! The Long Term Persistence and Reputation Wipe section below provides a thorough list of what is affected when one happens.

The full Long Term Persistence and Reputation Wipe may be discouraging for Star Citizen players, but the Star Citizen developers stated that they are using the strongest wipe possible to prepare the game for new features like Pyro, economy rebalance, and mission system refactoring coming with Star Citizen 4.0, along with features like guilds that will come after Star Citizen 4.0 releases.

If you're considering whether or not it's worth playing Star Citizen before the Star Citizen 4.0 wipe, check out our earlier article for some advice and tips for playing when a full  Star Citizen wipe is on the horizon.

Long term, there will be a full Long Term Persistence and Reputation wipe when Star Citizen reaches Beta status and also when Star Citizen 1.0 is released. These milestones may be years away. 

The Star Citizen 1.0 wipe is the last wipe or "reset" that the Star Citizen developers are planning. During the "The Stars My Destination: Star Citizen 1.0" presentation at CitizenCon 2954, Rich Tyrer, Senior Director for Star Citizen and Squadron 42, stated that there will not be any wipes after Star Citizen 1.0 releases. This would be in line with other MMOs and live service games where player progress, reputation, items, and credits persist through patches.

If you'd like to receive Star Citizen updates directly from the Star Citizen developers, then use our instructions to set up a Star Citizen account, and if you use our official Star Citizen referral code, then you'll also receive 5000 bonus game credits for free. 

These are the different items that can be reset or lost depending on the type of wipe:

• aUEC earned in-game 
• Ships, vehicles, and ship components purchased in-game
• Weapons, ammunition, items, and other equipment purchased or gathered in-game
• Crime stat
• Reputation with in-game NPC organizations and guilds such as the Bounty Hunters Guild and Crusader Security
• Character customization
• Primary residence (spawn point) and recent regeneration location

There are three forms of wipes:

• Database Reset
• Long Term Persistence Wipe
• Long Term Persistence and Reputation Wipe

Database resets usually happen with each major (X.0) and minor (#.X) release. 

The following items are affected when there is a database reset or you request a character reset:

• aUEC will be reset to the value stored in Long Term Persistence (recent changes may be lost)
• Mission progress is lost
  • Any mined material refinery orders that you have not collected and sold are lost with a Database Reset but should survive a Character Reset.
• Crime Stat is reset
• Any ships bought in-game with aUEC are not lost; however, any ongoing ship rentals will be lost.
• Ships you own will need to be delivered at an ASOP terminal.
• Ships, vehicles, equipment (armor, personal weapons, etc.) will be set to default configuration and will be in local inventory at your primary residence
  • Ship components are not lost, but will need to be reinstalled on your ship(s)
  • Any cargo or equipment stored on your ships will be lost.
• Consumables (ammo, medpens, foodstuffs) are lost
• Character customization is reset
• Primary residence (spawn point) will need to be re-selected
• Reputation with in-game NPC organizations and guilds is maintained; however, you will need to complete the bounty hunter certification missions again.
• Hangar decoration customizations (items will be placed back in inventory at your home location)

Long Term Persistence wipes are not regularly scheduled, and are usually a result of development progress or database contamination due to bugs in the game. 

The following items are affected when there is a database reset or you request a character reset:

• aUEC will be reset to the standard stipend
  • When Star Citizen releases, your UEC balance will start at the value shown in your balances.
• Mission progress is lost
• Crime Stat is reset
• Ships, vehicles, equipment (armor, personal weapons, etc.) will be lost, with the exception of the items in your personal hangar. The items in your personal hangar will be placed in local inventory at your primary residence.
  • If you paid real money for it, it will not be lost!
• Consumables (ammo, medpens, foodstuffs) are lost
• Character customization is reset
• Primary residence (spawn point) will need to be re-selected
• Reputation with in-game NPC organizations and guilds is maintained; however, you will need to complete the bounty hunter certification missions again.

Reputation status was separated into a separate database as of Star Citizen version 3.15, so your reputation should not be reset with Database Resets and Long Term Persistence wipes.

Though we can't predict when development progress or database contamination will occur, we do know that this most-severe level of wipe will happen at least at these two points:

1. Star Citizen reaches Beta status
2. Star Citizen is completed and released

The following items are affected when there is a Long Term Persistence and Reputation wipe:

• aUEC will be reset to the standard stipend
  • When Star Citizen releases, your UEC balance will start at the value shown in your balances.
• Mission progress is lost
• Crime Stat is reset
• Ships, vehicles, equipment (armor, personal weapons, etc.) will be lost, with the exception of the items in your personal hangar. Those items will be placed in local inventory at your primary residence.
  • If you paid real money for it, it will not be lost in a wipe!
• Consumables (ammo, medpens, foodstuffs) are lost
• Character customization is reset
• Primary residence (spawn point) will need to be re-selected
• Reputation with in-game NPC organizations and guilds is reset

Aside from character resets, wipes are beyond the control of the player base. They typically happen because of development progress or database contamination because of bugs.

Wipes are always an opportunity to look on the bright side of life in the Star Citizen universe. 

If there was database contamination, then a wipe may improve the stability and performance of Star Citizen. If the wipe is due to development progress, then it was probably necessary to enable a new gameplay type or feature that you'll get to enjoy.

Star Citizen's developers, CIG, take a proactive approach to announcing Long Term Persistence wipes because the wipes are disruptive to the player base. 

If a Long Term Persistence wipe will be occurring in the near future, then this is still a great time to play the game! Many people have millions and millions of credits and the impending reset to the standard stipend may make them willing to give their credits away to others. Ask in the in-game global chat, and you may find someone willing to give you the millions you need to buy and try out a ship you haven't flown yet!

You need to leave this website and go to the official Roberts Space Industries website to see what is in your account hangar. Click the link below to go to the official Roberts Space Industries website: 

https://robertsspaceindustries.com/account/pledges

You need to leave this website and go to the official Roberts Space Industries website to see what your starting balance will be. Click the link below to go to the official Roberts Space Industries website: 

https://robertsspaceindustries.com/account/billing

Once you are on the official RSI website, scroll down to the "Credits" section - your UEC balance will be shown in yellow.

Important Note: while Star Citizen is in alpha, all players are given a 20000 credit stipend in-game. This stipend will be replaced by your starting balance when Star Citizen exits development and is released.