Why Embark Brings PVE To Arc Raiders
When ARC Raiders first launched, the team expected pure extraction shooter fans. Instead, a huge and growing group of players showed up who just wanted to explore, loot, and take down ARC together.
According to Embark’s data:
37% of players are “Friendly” co-op focused
Over 70% of those friendly players (and even 40% of pure PvP players) want fewer hostile encounters
51% of the surveyed playerbase expressed interest in a dedicated PvE option
The studio is listening. This beta is their way of testing whether they can support different playstyles without breaking the core identity of the game.
How the PvE Toggle Works
During the test you’ll be able to freely switch between:
- Classic PvPvE Full tension, player vs player vs environment
- PvE Mode Zero player-to-player damage, pure co-op against ARC
Key details:
- Solos, Duos, and Trios all share the same PvE sessions
- Seamless switching jump into a chill PvE run then hop back into full PvPvE whenever you want
- Your PvPvE matchmaking rating stays completely unaffected
- High-tension conditions (Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate, and the new Frigate) are excluded from PvE during the test
Important Differences in PvE
To keep things balanced, Embark is making a few adjustments:
Overall loot value is lowered in PvE sessions (to compensate for the lack of player threat)
ARC enemies will re-acquire you if you crawl while downed stay still and they ignore you
PvPvE sessions will receive slightly higher baseline loot values during the test
The Risks Embark Is Watching Closely
This isn’t a risk-free experiment. The original vision of ARC Raiders was pure PvE, and the team has been careful about returning to that idea. They’re monitoring:
Player economy impact
Matchmaking and queue times (especially in lower-population regions)
Whether removing player threat reduces the overall tension that defines the game
Executive Producer Aleks made it clear: this is only a limited test. When the week ends, the toggle disappears. There is no guarantee a permanent PvE mode will follow. The data and your feedback will decide what happens next.
What Happens After the Test?
Embark will review everything and share their findings later. Any future version of a PvE option could look very different from what you experience in this beta.
Bottom Line
From October 13–20, ARC Raiders is giving players a real choice: pure extraction tension or relaxed co-op against the machines.
Whether you’re a hardcore PvP rat, a friendly scavenger, or somewhere in between this is your chance to try both and tell Embark exactly what you think.
Gear up. Choose your mode.
See you Topside.