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The 1.30 full wipe and ordinary branch behavior are different facts
The Badlands launch announcement states that Update 1.30 marked a fresh start with a full wipe across all platforms. That is direct evidence for the launch wipe; it is not evidence that a later Stable update repeats it, nor does it identify every individual community server's settings.
The official FAQ gives a separate rule: Experimental and Stress Test character/map wipes can occur at any time; Stable wipes can occur when the server owner or a major update to official servers requires one. Check which branch and server you actually used before interpreting an empty character list.
| What you see | What the official source says | First check |
|---|---|---|
| Character/map empty after the 1.30 launch | The launch notice declared a full wipe across platforms | Confirm the selected server and branch; do not assume a local reinstall restores wiped persistence |
| Character/map empty on Experimental or Stress Test | The FAQ says wipes may happen at any time on these branches | Verify you launched the branch you intended and check its current announcement |
| Character/map empty on Stable | Stable wipes may follow a major official update or server-owner choice | Check the server's own restart/wipe notice; community servers set their own persistence schedule |
| Server rejects you for a version mismatch | Developer troubleshooting says compare client-menu and server-browser version numbers | Compare both numbers and branch before switching anything |
References: Bohemia Interactive — DayZ Badlands and Update 1.30 launch · DayZ official FAQ · DayZ developer troubleshooting FAQ — version mismatch
Diagnose a missing server before treating it as a character wipe
A missing server in the browser is not the same symptom as a wiped character. DayZ's current FAQ says scheduled maintenance can make servers disappear; after maintenance/update, it suggests restarting the game or console and manually checking for updates. If the issue persists more than six hours, the FAQ says to contact customer support.
- Record your platform/store, branch, the exact server name and the time you last saw it; do not use a saved favorite as proof the server still exists.
- Check official maintenance announcements and the server owner's notice, especially for a temporary or community server.
- Restart the game or console and manually check for updates as the official FAQ recommends; on Steam, compare the main-menu build with the selected server's displayed version.
- If the server reappears but the character is absent, check the branch-specific wipe rule and that server's own wipe notice as separate questions.
- If no servers appear for more than six hours after maintenance/update, follow the official support route; do not delete local data as an initial step.
References: DayZ official FAQ · DayZ developer troubleshooting FAQ — version mismatch
Use the join preflight only to order your checks
The browser-local preflight combines your selected branch, version comparison and server-browser result. It does not contact a server, read a character, inspect your installation, infer a wipe cause or check current maintenance. Its output is a checklist, not a diagnosis of your account.
References: DayZ official FAQ · Bohemia Interactive — DayZ Badlands and Update 1.30 launch · DayZ developer troubleshooting FAQ — version mismatch
Keep platform and build claims narrow
As checked November 6, Bohemia's Steam page listed Stable 1.30 Update 3 as version 1.30.164289, released November 3. That number is specifically the Steam Stable note. The Badlands launch page links separate PlayStation, Xbox and Steam notes, so do not apply the Steam number to a console or assume every server updated at the same time.
The October 27 developer blog discussed planned hotfix work with server owners and modders. It is a dated status report, not proof that any particular later build has or has not resolved your issue.
References: DayZ official Steam Stable 1.30 Update 3 notes · Bohemia Interactive — DayZ Badlands and Update 1.30 launch · Bohemia Interactive — DayZ Badlands post-release developer blog
Before you play
- I identified platform/store and Stable, Experimental or Stress Test before comparing wipe behavior.
- I separated a missing server from a missing character or map persistence.
- For a version rejection, I compared the displayed client and server versions before changing branches.
- I checked the platform-specific notes instead of treating Steam's build number as universal.
- I preserved local data and checked the server owner's notice before attempting recovery.
Frequently asked questions
Did DayZ 1.30 wipe characters on every platform?
The October 15 official Badlands/1.30 launch announcement says it would be a full wipe across all platforms. That statement describes the 1.30 launch, not every later patch.
Can Experimental wipe happen without a major update?
The official FAQ says character and map wipes can occur at any time on Experimental and Stress Test branches.
Is Steam Stable 1.30.164289 the Xbox or PlayStation build?
No such conclusion follows from the Steam notes. Use the separate platform patch notes linked from the official release announcement.
The server browser is empty. Does that mean I was wiped?
No. The official FAQ lists maintenance as a possible cause and recommends checking notices, restarting/checking updates, then contacting support if the issue continues more than six hours.
Sources & revision notes
Editorial revision: November 6, 2026; not a gameplay test date. The reference notes identify source limits and version differences.
- Bohemia Interactive — DayZ Badlands and Update 1.30 launch (Official)
Official launch announcement dated October 15, 2026, checked November 6, 2026. It says 1.30 brought a full wipe across all platforms and identifies some items as base-game updates while describing Nasdara and its regional systems as Badlands expansion content. Use platform-specific patch notes for build details.
- DayZ official FAQ (Official)
Official FAQ checked November 6, 2026. It distinguishes Stable from Experimental/Stress Test wipe behavior and gives a server-browser troubleshooting order; check current notices before acting.
- DayZ official Steam Stable 1.30 Update 3 notes (Official)
The Steam notes identify Stable Update 3 as version 1.30.164289 released November 3, 2026, checked November 6. This is a dated PC/Steam snapshot, not a console build claim or guarantee of the reader's installed version.
- DayZ developer troubleshooting FAQ — version mismatch (Official)
Developer-posted troubleshooting material on the official DayZ forum, originally posted in 2018 and checked November 6, 2026. Its version-comparison and branch-switch steps are historical operational guidance; current patch announcements and the platform's server browser take precedence.
- Bohemia Interactive — DayZ Badlands post-release developer blog (Official)
Official developer blog dated October 27, 2026, checked November 6. It describes post-launch hotfix work and communication with server owners/modders; do not treat its planned rollout timing as a current patch status.
First publication, November 6, 2026: separated the announced 1.30 full wipe from branch-specific wipe behavior, server visibility and version rejection. No client, server or character was tested.
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