ARC Raiders Opens PvE Matchmaking Test for One Week Starting October 13

Embark Studios has confirmed that ARC Raiders will receive a PvE matchmaking beta test, responding to months of community demand for a cooperative-only experience in the extraction shooter.

The trial runs from October 13 to October 20. During this period, players can enable a PvE matchmaking toggle when loading into matches. The mode removes all player-to-player damage while keeping the ARC enemy encounters and cooperative gameplay intact. Players will still share lobbies with other Raiders but cannot harm each other.

According to Embark's blog post, the studio originally designed ARC Raiders as a PvE co-op game before pivoting to the current PvPvE experience. After reviewing player data, the team found a significant portion of the community preferred less hostile encounters with other players. This trial is Embark's response to that feedback.

Not all content will be available in PvE mode. Major Map Conditions including Night Raids and the upcoming Frigate map won't support PvE matchmaking, as these are built around creating higher tension. Solo, Duo, and Trio squads can play together in the same sessions, and players can freely switch between PvE and standard PvPvE modes.

The reduced risk comes with tradeoffs. Loot value across maps will be lowered in PvE mode. Additionally, downed ARC enemies will behave differently. Rather than ignoring downed players, the ARC may lock back onto them if they attempt to crawl away, maintaining some difficulty in otherwise more relaxed sessions.

Embark is framing this as an experiment, not a permanent feature. The studio will monitor in-game economy and matchmaking times throughout the trial. If results don't support expansion, PvE matchmaking may not return. However, positive data could lead to refinements and additional testing. The studio has committed to keeping communication open with the community about the trial's outcome and next steps.