PC Companion Prestige Guide: How to Reset and Unlock New Content

What Is the Prestige System in PC Companion?

The prestige system in PC Companion is a late-game mechanic that allows you to reset your progress in exchange for permanent bonuses and access to new content. Unlike a simple restart, prestige rewards you with special currency, unique upgrades, and the chance to discover hidden secrets that are otherwise locked behind a fresh playthrough.

When you choose to prestige, your current relationship level, unlocked items, and story progress are reset. However, you retain certain key benefits that make each subsequent run faster and more rewarding. This system is designed for players who want to fully explore everything the game has to offer, including the elusive hidden secret that changes how many companions you can have.

For a broader overview of the game's progression mechanics, check out our progression system guide.

How to Unlock the Prestige Option

The prestige option is not available from the start. You must first reach the maximum relationship level with your companion and complete the main story campaign. Once you have done this, a new option will appear in the settings menu under "Advanced Options."

Before you can prestige, you will need to fulfill the following requirements:

• Complete the main story campaign (see our story campaign guide).
• Reach maximum relationship level (100% bond).
• Have at least one save file that is not your current active one.

Once these conditions are met, you can initiate the prestige process. The game will warn you that this action is irreversible, so be sure to back up your save file if you want to return to your current state later. For more on save management, see our save file guide.

What Carries Over After Prestige

When you prestige, not everything is lost. The following items and progress are permanently retained:

• Prestige currency (earned based on your total playtime and achievements)
• Unlocked cosmetic skins for your companion
• Any purchased DLC content
• Steam achievements already earned
• Hidden secret progress (if you have discovered it)

Everything else, including your companion's level, inventory items, and story progress, will be reset to the starting state. This means you will begin a new game with a fresh companion, but you will have access to prestige-exclusive upgrades from the very beginning.

Prestige Rewards and Bonuses

Each time you prestige, you earn prestige points that can be spent in a special prestige shop. The shop offers permanent upgrades that affect all future playthroughs. These include:

• Increased starting bond: Begin each new game with a higher initial relationship level.
• Faster growth rate: Your companion learns new behaviors and responses more quickly.
• Unlock hidden dialogue: Access unique conversations that are only available to prestige players.
• Secret discovery boost: Increases the chance of finding the hidden secret that allows multiple companions.

The more times you prestige, the more powerful these bonuses become. Some players report that after three prestiges, they can unlock the hidden secret in under an hour of gameplay. For more details on secrets, read our secrets guide.

Tips for Efficient Prestige Runs

To make the most of the prestige system, follow these strategies:

1. Plan your upgrades: Spend prestige points on upgrades that reduce the time needed to reach max bond again. The "Faster growth rate" upgrade is usually the best first purchase.
2. Use guides: Refer to our beginner tips guide for efficient early-game strategies after each reset.
3. Track your progress: Keep a log of which achievements you have earned to avoid wasting time on repeat tasks.
4. Experiment with choices: Each prestige run allows you to make different dialogue choices, potentially unlocking new story branches. Check our endings guide for all possible outcomes.

Common Questions About Prestige

How many times can I prestige? There is no hard cap on the number of prestiges. However, the bonuses diminish after the fifth prestige, as most permanent upgrades will be maxed out by then.

Will I lose my original companion forever? Yes, your current companion will be replaced by a new one. However, if you have discovered the game's hidden secret, you may be able to retain your original companion alongside the new one. Learn more in our character collection guide.

Can I undo a prestige? No, the prestige action is permanent. Always create a backup save before prestiging if you are unsure.

Does prestige affect multiplayer or co-op? No, prestige is a single-player mechanic. It does not affect any multiplayer or co-op modes. See our multiplayer guide for more details.