Arc Raiders tests PvE mode after majority of players opt out of PvP combat

Arc Raiders developer Embark Studios is testing a PvE mode in response to shifting player preferences within its extraction shooter community. Between October 13th and 20th, players can toggle between the traditional PvP experience and a new cooperative-only version where human players cannot damage each other, though AI-controlled machines remain a threat.

The decision stems from documented player behavior. Embark shared data revealing that the pure PvP player group has remained stable at 34% since launch, while mixed players who occasionally engage in combat have largely transitioned to exclusively cooperative play. The studio stated: "We're seeing a large and growing group of Raiders who come to the Rust Belt for the co-op and the ARC, not fighting with other Raiders. That group has become a core part of our community, so it's important we learn how to support them properly rather than leave them working around the game."

The PvE mode mirrors regular Arc Raiders with deliberate differences. Player-versus-player damage is disabled entirely, and loot value is reduced to reflect the lower risk profile. Special events designed around unpredictable player encounters, including Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate, and Frigate, will not appear in PvE sessions.

To maintain tension without PvP threats, Embark tuned AI behavior slightly. Downed players moving while crawling risk re-acquisition by enemies, though remaining still causes machines to ignore them. Embark clarified this adjustment does not aim to make PvE harder to compensate for absent player danger but rather to preserve some challenge.

The trend extends beyond Arc Raiders. Bungie is similarly developing a PvE mode for Marathon to appeal to players prioritizing cooperative gameplay over competitive encounters. Extraction shooters have historically derived tension from environmental hazards and unpredictable player intentions, creating uncertainty until players successfully extract from maps. The genre's appeal may depend on whether removing that PvP element maintains or diminishes engagement.

Separately, Embark announced Arc Raiders will receive major updates every six months, with the next release introducing the game's largest map. The studio is also testing kernel-level anti-cheat through Denuvo Anti-Cheat to address ongoing cheating concerns while minimizing performance impact.