Announcement September 24, 2026

Arc Raiders PvE Toggle Test — October 13-20, 2026

Embark is testing a PvE matchmaking toggle in Arc Raiders. For one week, October 13-20, 2026, you can switch between the classic PvPvE experience and a PvE mode with zero player-to-player damage. It is a limited test, not a permanent mode, and the toggle is removed when it ends. Here is how it works, what changes, and why Embark is doing it.

October 13-20 Zero Player Damage Lower Loot Value No MMR Impact Limited Test

How the PvE Toggle Works

Dates: October 13-20, 2026, the week after Frozen Trail launches

Switch freely: toggle between PvPvE and PvE between raids, for example a relaxed solo PvE session and then back to a high-tension PvPvE match

No player damage: PvE sessions have zero player-to-player damage and focus on the ARC and co-op

Mixed squads: Solos, Duos and Trios all share the same PvE session

Rating protected: your PvPvE matchmaking rating is not affected by PvE play

Excluded: Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate and the Frigate are PvPvE only

What Is Different in PvE

Change

Lower Loot Value

Overall loot value is reduced in PvE to compensate for the relative safety. To keep the economy balanced, PvPvE sessions get slightly higher baseline loot during the test.

Change

ARC Can Re-Target You While Downed

If ARC down you in PvE, be careful crawling: they may re-acquire you as a target while you move. Stay still and they will ignore you. This keeps some tension without the threat of other Raiders.

Same Content, Just Safer

You can still scavenge, complete quests and explore. Embark is not testing harder PvE or new PvE progression here, only an alternative to PvP encounters.

Why Embark Is Testing PvE

Arc Raiders started life seven years ago as a raid-based PvE co-op game before Embark reset it into the PvPvE extraction shooter it is today. After launch, the playerbase turned out to be far more varied than expected. Embark shared this breakdown of how players prefer to play:

37% friendly co-op players (a group that has grown steadily since launch)

27% mixed players

34% pure PvP players (stable since launch)

Over 70% of friendly players and 40% of PvP players want fewer hostile encounters

51% of surveyed players are interested in a dedicated PvE option

Risks & What Comes Next

Tension and Queue Times

Embark admits PvE could reduce the tension the game was built around. Matchmaking may also take a little longer in low-population regions or off-hours, and a large PvE turnout could affect PvPvE session quality. Both will be monitored during the test.

No Promise of a PvE Mode

The toggle disappears when the test ends. Embark will review the data and feedback and share findings afterward. Any future version could look very different, and it is possible the idea does not work at all.

PvE Toggle FAQ

When is the Arc Raiders PvE toggle test?

The PvE matchmaking toggle test runs from October 13 to October 20, 2026, the week after the Frozen Trail update.

Is Arc Raiders getting a permanent PvE mode?

Not yet. This is a limited test. When it ends the toggle is removed and matchmaking returns to normal. Embark says it is seriously considering PvE but the test is not a promise of a future mode.

Can other players damage you in PvE mode?

No. PvE sessions have zero player-to-player damage and focus purely on the ARC threat and co-op play. Solos, Duos and Trios share the same session.

Does PvE affect my PvPvE matchmaking rating?

No. Your PvPvE matchmaking rating is not affected by playing PvE sessions.

Which maps and conditions are excluded from PvE?

Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate and the Frigate are excluded from the PvE test, because they are designed around the uncertainty of meeting other players.

Is loot the same in PvE?

No. Overall loot value is lower in PvE sessions to balance their relative safety, and PvPvE sessions get slightly higher baseline loot during the test.