What You'll Learn

This guide explains the upcoming PvE matchmaking test in ARC Raiders, including the exact test window, how the toggle works, what content is excluded, how loot values are being adjusted, and why this matters for long-term matchmaking, progression, and extraction balance. If you want to understand whether the feature is just a temporary experiment or a likely future direction, this breakdown covers the practical details and the bigger picture.

ARC Raiders Is Testing a PvE Matchmaking Toggle

Embark has confirmed that ARC Raiders will run a limited beta test for a PvE matchmaking toggle from October 13 through October 20. During that one-week period, players will be able to choose between the game’s traditional PvPvE format and a PvE-only matchmaking option focused on cooperation against ARC enemies rather than combat against other raiders.

This is one of the most significant announcements tied to the Frozen Trail period because it addresses a long-running request from a large part of the community. The key detail, however, is that this is not a permanent feature yet. Embark is framing it as a test designed to gather feedback and live data before making any long-term commitment.

That distinction matters. Players should treat this as a real gameplay trial, not as a locked-in roadmap promise. Even so, the fact that the system is being implemented at all suggests the studio is seriously evaluating whether a co-op-focused option belongs in the game’s future.

Why Embark Is Exploring PvE Now

The reasoning behind the test appears to come directly from player behavior and survey data. According to the announced breakdown, the player base currently trends across three broad playstyles: friendly co-op players, mixed players, and pure PvP players. The standout point is that co-op-oriented players have continued to grow, while the middle group has thinned out over time.

Embark also shared that more than half of surveyed players expressed interest in a dedicated PvE option, and even a notable share of PvP-focused players wanted fewer hostile encounters. That is important because it suggests the demand is not limited to one fringe audience. Instead, there is a broader appetite for sessions with lower player conflict and more predictable cooperative play.

For a game built around tension, extraction risk, and uncertain social encounters, that creates a design challenge. The studio clearly wants to preserve the identity of the original experience, but it also has to respond to how people are actually playing. This test is the first serious attempt to balance those two realities.

How the PvE Toggle Will Work

During the beta period, players will be able to switch between classic PvPvE and the new PvE playlist. In the PvE version, there will be zero player-to-player damage. That means no direct hostile engagements between raiders, no ambushes at extraction, and no revenge kills over contested loot.

The focus instead shifts to scavenging, quest completion, and fighting ARC threats alongside other players. Sessions will still include solos, duos, and trios in the same pool. That approach helps avoid splitting the player base too aggressively and keeps matchmaking practical during the test window.

Embark also stated that switching between the two modes is meant to be seamless. In theory, that allows players to use PvE for a lower-pressure farming run or quest session, then jump back into PvPvE when they want higher stakes and more unpredictable raids.

That flexibility may end up being one of the most important parts of the experiment. If the toggle feels frictionless, it could support multiple playstyles without forcing the entire community into one format.

Not every activity will be available in PvE during the beta. Embark has already confirmed that the following content will be excluded:

• Night Raid
• Hidden Bunker
• Locked Gate
• Frig

These activities are being left out because they are designed around heightened tension and the possibility of player interference. In other words, they rely on the uncertainty that comes from not knowing whether another raider will cooperate, compete, or betray.

That exclusion list says a lot about Embark’s design philosophy. The studio is not trying to convert every part of the game into a low-risk co-op loop. Instead, it is testing whether a PvE variant can coexist with the core extraction formula without undermining the most pressure-heavy spaces.

For players planning routes and quests during the event, this means some high-value or high-drama content will still remain tied to the original format. That could also influence which ARC Raiders Items and progression resources are worth prioritizing during the week.

Loot Is Being Reduced in PvE Sessions

The biggest gameplay tradeoff in the test is loot value. Embark has confirmed that overall loot value will be lowered in PvE sessions to compensate for the relative safety of not dealing with hostile raiders.

This is a crucial balancing lever. If PvE offered the same rewards with fewer risks, it would likely become the default choice for many players and weaken the population in classic matchmaking. By cutting loot value, Embark is trying to preserve a meaningful difference between lower-stress runs and higher-risk extractions.

At the same time, PvPvE sessions will reportedly have slightly higher baseline loot values during the test. That is another direct attempt to preserve the incentive structure of the original mode.

There are still open questions about how this reduction will work in practice. It could mean fewer high-tier spawns, lower average payout, reduced density of valuable containers, or broader tuning across extraction rewards. Until the test goes live, players should assume that PvE will be better for consistency and safety, while PvPvE will remain better for peak-value runs.

For anyone managing ARC Raiders crafting Materials, upgrade bottlenecks, or future stash planning, this difference may matter more than the toggle itself. A safer run is useful, but only if the returns still justify the time spent.

Take a look at: our Frozen Trail update breakdown

One Small Rule Could Make PvE More Tense Than Expected

Even though the playlist removes player damage, Embark is not making PvE completely forgiving. One of the more interesting details is how downed states will work against ARC enemies. If a player is downed and crawls, enemies may reacquire that player as a target. If the player stays still, the enemies will ignore them.

That creates a subtle but meaningful layer of tension. It means being downed is not automatically safe just because another raider cannot finish the job. Positioning, timing, and team coordination will still matter during revives, especially in crowded fights or while trying to recover from mistakes under pressure.

This also reinforces that the test is about removing PvP pressure, not removing danger altogether. ARC enemies still need to feel threatening enough to support the game’s identity as an extraction shooter with survival elements.

How This Could Affect Matchmaking and Queue Times

Any time a game introduces a new matchmaking split, population health becomes a concern. Embark has already acknowledged that queue times may increase in low-population regions or off-hours, especially if the test pulls a large share of players into the new playlist.

This is one of the most important metrics the studio will be watching. A PvE mode can be popular and still create problems if it weakens the quality of PvPvE lobbies too much. If the original mode loses too many players, that can reduce encounter variety, distort matchmaking quality, and make the broader ecosystem less stable.

That is why this one-week test matters beyond simple player preference. It gives Embark a chance to measure whether the feature can live alongside the classic experience without damaging it. If queue health, extraction rates, and loot flow remain manageable, the odds of a longer-term version improve.

For many players, the most practical question is not whether PvE sounds appealing in theory. It is whether the mode will be good for quests, farming, and efficient progression. The answer is likely yes, but with limits.

PvE should be especially useful for players who want more reliable objective completion, safer exploration, and lower-pressure collection runs. That makes it attractive for gathering ARC Raiders progression resources, testing routes, and learning map flow without worrying about every distant footstep turning into a gunfight.

It may also become a strong environment for newer players using starter ARC Raiders Guns and lighter kits, since the reduced threat from other raiders lowers the punishment for imperfect positioning and slower decision-making.

However, the reduced loot value means PvE may not become the best answer for every progression goal. If a player needs top-end rewards, rare drops, or high-value extraction loot, the classic mode may still offer the better return. In that sense, the two playlists could end up serving different purposes: PvE for consistency and learning, PvPvE for higher stakes and stronger payouts.

That distinction will be especially relevant for players targeting ARC Raiders Blueprints, advanced crafting paths, and expensive upgrade chains tied to base development.

The Biggest Design Risk: Griefing Without PvP Consequences

One of the less obvious issues in a PvE-only session is social friction around contested loot and objectives. If players cannot damage each other, they also cannot punish bad behavior directly. That creates room for a different kind of frustration.

For example, players may rush in to steal boss drops, strip event rewards, or interfere with objective flow without any fear of retaliation. In the standard format, those situations can escalate into direct conflict, which at least gives players a way to defend their claim. In PvE, that option disappears.

This could become especially relevant around high-value ARC targets, shared event spaces, or limited resource nodes. If the mode attracts a large cooperative audience, social norms may solve some of the problem naturally. But if too many players exploit the lack of consequences, Embark may need additional systems to protect fair loot distribution and reduce griefing.

That issue may end up being just as important as loot tuning when the studio evaluates the test.

Could PvE Bring Players Back to ARC Raiders?

There is a strong chance that this feature increases player interest, at least in the short term. PvE has been one of the most requested additions since launch, and a lower-stress option could appeal to lapsed players who liked the setting, the ARC enemy design, and the extraction structure but bounced off constant player hostility.

A co-op option can also make the game easier to recommend to friends who prefer teamwork over betrayal-heavy lobbies. That matters for long-term retention because social groups often stick with extraction games longer when they feel they have more control over the level of risk they are signing up for.

Still, a population boost alone will not determine success. The real question is whether the mode can coexist with the original formula. If PvE feels rewarding enough to be worth using but not so rewarding that it drains the classic mode, then Embark may have found a sustainable middle ground.

What to Watch During the Test Week

When the beta goes live, there are a few specific things players should pay attention to:

• How much lower the loot value actually feels in practice
• Whether quests become dramatically easier to complete
• How often contested loot leads to frustration or griefing
• Whether queue times noticeably change in either playlist
• How threatening ARC enemies feel without PvP pressure

These factors will shape whether the mode feels like a meaningful alternative or just a temporary curiosity. They will also determine how useful the playlist is for players farming loot and resources, testing builds, or preparing for future content tied to Frozen Trail.

Anyone focused on smoother base development, stash efficiency, or ARC Raiders Workbench progression should pay close attention to the reward curve. If the mode supports stable farming even with reduced loot, it could become a valuable part of a broader progression strategy.

Take a look at: this progression guide for safer extractions and stronger loadouts

The PvE beta is more than a short experiment. It is a signal that Embark is willing to rethink how ARC Raiders is structured based on actual player behavior. That does not mean the game is abandoning PvPvE. It means the studio is testing whether multiple ways to engage with the same world can strengthen the overall experience.

If the data looks good, the future version of PvE may not be identical to this first test. Loot balance, matchmaking rules, activity availability, and progression integration could all change. The one certainty is that player feedback will matter heavily in whatever comes next.

For now, the smartest expectation is simple: treat this as a meaningful prototype. It is real enough to reveal where the system works, where it breaks, and whether it can support players who want safer scavenging without erasing the tension that defines the game.

FAQ

When is the ARC Raiders PvE test happening?

The PvE matchmaking beta is scheduled to run from October 13 to October 20.

Will PvE replace the normal PvPvE mode?

No. The current announcement describes a temporary test, and the classic mode will still remain available during the event.

No. Embark has confirmed that PvE sessions will have lower overall loot value to offset the reduced risk.

Can players still fight each other in the PvE playlist?

No. The test removes player-to-player damage entirely, so the focus is on co-op play against ARC enemies.

Is PvE good for progression?

It should help with safer questing and more consistent farming, but reduced rewards may make PvPvE better for top-end extraction loot and some gear upgrades.