Several players have complained about Arc Raiders’ PvP experience being plagued by cheaters, with random Raiders killing them. This is also credited as the reason several popular streamers have stopped playing Arc Raiders. Embark Studios will be testing a new limited-time PvE mode, which can help with this issue. Here’s everything about Arc Raiders’ new PvE mode and how it will work.
What Is the Arc Raiders PvE Mode?
This isn’t a new gameplay mode that Embark Studios is introducing in Arc Raiders; instead, the PvE mode will be a matchmaking toggle. Embark will run a test from October 13, 2026, to October 20, 2026, and players will be able to choose between the default PvPvE experience and the PvE experience. The latter will prioritize fighting ARC enemies while potentially teaming up with other Raiders.
PvE will support Solos, Duos, and Trios, without any limitations. The main objective of the toggle is to allow players to focus on exploring, completing quests, and taking on enemies without the risk of other Raiders attacking. Embark has stated that no individual progression system will be released for PvE, and the developer has no intention of making combat more difficult.
How Will PvE Matchmaking Work?
The process is straightforward, as the PvE mode will be introduced as a toggle, using which players will be able to switch between the two different matchmaking experiences. Embark is reportedly designing the toggle for a seamless experience, which should make changing from PvE to PvPvE and vice versa relatively simple and instant.
The developer has, however, stated that a high number of PvE players may affect PvPvE sessions negatively. Embark Studios will be observing queue times and matchmaking quality, especially during off-hours and low-population regions. This is likely why the developer is currently only testing the toggle for one week.
What Will Change in Arc Raiders’ PvE Mode?
This is a major point of interest for players, and there will be significant trade-offs for using the PvE mode. The biggest change will be loot value, as Embark has stated that the overall loot value in PvE will be lowered because players will be safer compared to the default experience. This is logical, as Raiders will find it easier to extract when other players can surprise-attack them.
ARC mechanics will also see some changes, with a major one being that if an enemy downs you, they can reacquire the target if you crawl. Staying still will lead the ARC to ignore you. This appears to be a way for Embark to make combat still challenging despite removing the PvP element.
What Content Is Available in PvE?
Raiders will be able to do almost everything they could during PvPvE, with certain things being excluded. You can scavenge, explore, complete quests, fight ARC, extract with loot, and play with other players. The toggle’s key change will be that the PvP element is removed from the equation.
Despite this, four things will be excluded if you toggle the PvE mode. These include Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate, and Frigate. Embark has reasoned that these four elements rely on tension and uncertainty from hostile players, which is why they will be excluded. Frigate will be added to the game in Frozen Trail, and it’s designed in a way that Raiders will encounter each other while aboard the ARC.
Why Is Embark Testing a PvE Mode?
Embark Studios has provided player data, which they have analyzed and used for their decision to introduce a PvE mode in Arc Raiders. The developer revealed that 37% of players are classified as friendly co-op players, 27% are mixed, and 34% are pure PvP players. Furthermore, over 70% of friendly players and 40% of PvP players want fewer hostile encounters. 51% of surveyed players also expressed interest in a dedicated PvE mode.
Embark also revealed that the friendly player group has been steadily growing since the launch of Arc Raiders, while the pure PvP group has remained stable. This makes sense given that Arc Raiders was initially planned as a PvE game, before Embark decided to turn it into the PvPvE game that was eventually released.
Can Arc Raiders’ PvE Mode Help with the Game’s Player Loss Problem?
It’s not hidden that Arc Raiders has been consistently bleeding players. The game peaked during the days of its launch, and then players have quit for several reasons. The rampant cheating was one of them, and several players had requested that Embark do something about it. A dedicated PvE mode may be able to help with that, as it takes out the hostile player element.
It’s unclear whether this will be able to bring back players to the game, but it’s possible that this could help Embark retain those who are still playing. This will still be a good thing for Arc Raiders, as Steam data indicates the game’s player base is still reportedly decreasing.
