ARC Raiders’ limited PvE matchmaking test is live from October 13 through October 20, 2026. Turn on the PvE toggle to fight ARC machines without taking damage from other Raiders. It is a temporary test, not confirmation that a permanent PvE mode will launch.
What is available right now?
The test adds a matchmaking option alongside ARC Raiders’ normal player-versus-player-versus-environment (PvPvE) experience. In a PvE session, the threat comes from ARC enemies and the environment; player-to-player damage is disabled. The announced availability window runs through October 20, after which Embark says the toggle will be removed.
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You still need an online connection, an Embark ID and an account for the platform you use. The test is therefore an online feature rather than a separate offline or standalone edition of the game.
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- Launch ARC Raiders while the test window is active.
- Open the game’s matchmaking controls and select the PvE toggle instead of the standard PvPvE option.
- Queue with your preferred party size. Solos, duos and trios all enter one shared PvE matchmaking pool.
- Deploy and complete runs against ARC enemies, remembering that the test’s reduced loot and excluded conditions differ from PvPvE.
The announcement does not promise that every platform exposes the control identically, so use the current in-game matchmaking screen and update the client if the option is missing.
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PvE and PvPvE compared
| Feature | PvE test | Normal PvPvE |
|---|---|---|
| Player damage | Raider-on-Raider damage disabled | Other Raiders can be hostile and deal player damage |
| Squad matchmaking | Solos, duos and trios share one pool | Uses the game’s normal PvPvE matchmaking rules |
| Map conditions | Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate and Frigate are excluded | Those conditions remain part of the higher-tension PvPvE offering |
| Loot | Overall value is reduced to reflect the safer format | Slightly higher baseline loot values |
| Matchmaking rating | Does not affect PvPvE matchmaking rating | Runs contribute to the normal PvPvE rating system |
| Risk and tension | Focuses on ARC enemies and cooperative play | Combines ARC threats with uncertainty about other players |
Why some content is missing
Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate and Frigate are not available in the test. Embark describes these conditions as dependent on uncertainty and pressure created by other players. Removing them keeps the experiment centered on cooperative encounters rather than reproducing every PvPvE scenario without hostile Raiders.
Loot is intentionally lower
PvE rewards are reduced overall. PvPvE sessions retain slightly higher baseline loot values because players accept the additional danger of hostile encounters. The lower PvE value is a balancing choice for the test, not evidence that a future permanent mode would use exactly the same reward rates.
How ARC enemies treat downed players
During the test, an ARC enemy may reacquire a downed player who crawls. If the downed player remains still, the ARC ignores them. This unusual rule means crawling is not automatically safer: movement can draw the enemy’s attention back to a player waiting for a revive.
What the player data says
Embark says the game began as a raid-focused PvE co-op concept before being reset into a PvPvE extraction game. After launch, the studio saw substantial interest from people who wanted to fight ARC enemies with friends rather than fight other Raiders.
Embark’s published 2026 player split was 37% friendly co-op players, 27% mixed players and 34% pure PvP players. The studio also reported that more than 70% of friendly players and 40% of PvP players wanted fewer hostile encounters, while 51% of surveyed players expressed interest in a dedicated PvE option. These figures explain why the toggle is being tested, but they do not establish that the test will become a permanent feature.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Will ARC Raiders get permanent PvE?
There is no commitment yet. Embark says the toggle will be removed after October 20 and that future design remains undecided. Executive Producer Aleks put the uncertainty plainly: “It’s possible that this will not work. This test is not a promise that there will be a PvE mode in the future, but take this as an indication that we are seriously considering it.”
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For now, the test is best understood as a limited opportunity to measure demand and learn whether a safer cooperative format fits ARC Raiders without undermining its extraction-game identity. Play during the announced window if you want to provide feedback or experience the game without Raider-on-Raider damage; do not assume the toggle will remain after the test ends.
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