server wipe
/ˈsɜrvər waɪp/
CommonWhen all player data, progress, and items on a game server are deleted and everyone starts over.
Players have complicated feelings about wipes. Some dread them after grinding for hundreds of hours. Others actively look forward to them for the fresh-start energy and competitive reset.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | server wipe is thursday, not worth grinding right now | All progress resets Thursday, so heavy investment before then is pointless. | reddit, 2024 |
| 02 | wipe day is my favorite day in this game honestly | The server reset is enjoyable because it levels the playing field. | x, 2024 |
| 03 | they wiped the server two days after i built my whole base, im done | The reset happened right after significant progress, causing frustration. | reddit, 2023 |
| 04 | beta ends next week, server wipe confirmed before launch | Testing phase is wrapping up and all progress will be deleted before the real game starts. | x, 2023 |
Use it when
- All progress on a game server is being deleted and reset.
- A beta period is ending and progress will not carry to launch.
- A game server runs on a scheduled reset cycle.
- You are warning players not to grind because everything will be reset.
Do not use it when
- Only one player's data was deleted, not the whole server.
- The game reset your stats but not in-game items.
Variations and related forms
Server wipe vs character wipe
server wipe
A server wipe deletes all data for everyone on the server.
VS
character-wipe
A character wipe deletes individual player progression like levels, skills, and unlocks.
Origin and context
Originated in online multiplayer and survival game communities. Popularized by games like Rust and DayZ, which run periodic server resets to prevent dominant players from accumulating too much advantage.
- First seen
- 2010s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/server-wipeUpdated: 2026-08-29License: CC BY 4.0