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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsARC Raiders’ limited PvE matchmaking test began October 13, 2026, and at least one early player reaction predicts that the option could make PvP feel more approachable. That is not evidence that players are already using PvE to practice PvP, or that this is a widespread behavior. The test removes damage between players, so it offers a lower-conflict way to learn PvE and co-op play—not a direct simulation of fighting other Raiders.
What the ARC Raiders PvE test changes
Embark Studios scheduled the matchmaking test for October 13–20, 2026. Players can choose the standard PvPvE experience or PvE matchmaking. The latter still includes other Raiders and ARC enemies, but player-to-player damage is disabled. Embark’s test announcement and rules are available in its official news and game information.
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Disabling damage does not remove every interaction between players. Stun and fire throwables do not work on other players in PvE matchmaking, while physical interaction items such as barricades and ziplines remain unaffected. The mode is therefore not an offline or solo campaign: other players can still be present, but the central threat of being shot by them is removed.
Does PvE matchmaking help players practice PvP?
It may help someone become more comfortable with ARC Raiders’ maps, movement, extraction routines, and PvE combat before returning to PvPvE. But the available early discussion supports only an individual player’s expectation that PvE access might lead them to play PvP more. It does not establish that this is already happening as a common practice.
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There is also a limit to what the test can teach about PvP itself: because player-to-player damage is disabled, players cannot use PvE matchmaking to rehearse a real firefight against another Raider. Any claim that the mode is already serving as a PvP training ground goes beyond the evidence available at the start of the test.
PvE and PvPvE matchmaking compared
| Feature | PvE matchmaking | Standard PvPvE |
|---|---|---|
| Damage from other players | Disabled | Possible |
| ARC enemies and other Raiders | Present | Present |
| Stun and fire throwables against players | Do not work | Not stated in the cited test rules |
| Physical interaction items, including barricades and ziplines | Remain unaffected | Not stated in the cited test rules |
| Overall loot value | Reduced | Not stated in the cited test rules |
| Squad-size matching | Different squad sizes meet more often because squad separation is not prioritized | Squad separation is prioritized more than in the PvE test; exact matching rates are not stated |
| Map-condition availability | No PvE option for Night Raid, Locked Gate, Hidden Bunker, Frigate, and Redirection | These conditions are among those without a PvE option |
| PvPvE matchmaking rating | Playing PvE does not affect it, according to Embark | Used for PvPvE matchmaking |
Trade-offs and limits of the test
Lower loot value
Embark says overall loot value is reduced in PvE matchmaking. The available test details do not give a specific percentage or item-by-item adjustment, so players should not assume PvE will provide the same rewards as PvPvE.
Less separation by squad size
Different squad sizes will meet more often because the test does not prioritize separating them. A player queueing with a squad may encounter groups of a different size, and the rule does not promise a particular squad-versus-squad matchup.
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Not available for every map condition
Night Raid, Locked Gate, Hidden Bunker, Frigate, and Redirection are among the conditions without a PvE option. Players who want to enter one of those conditions should expect to use the standard PvPvE queue.
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- Capture and Tame Dinosaurs: Discover over 100 different dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures on the island, finding ways to tame them into useful additions for your tribe's dyno herd
- Survive Above All: Hunger, thirst, basic safety, and protecting yourself from the weather are all part of the game
- Harvest, Hunt and Build: Cut down trees and turn them into a basic home, which you can quickly expand into a Jurassic estate. Hunt for meat, scavenge for plants (or start your own garden!)
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Queues may vary
Embark cautions that a separate matchmaking pool can affect queues, particularly in quieter regions or at less busy hours. The size of any effect is not stated; actual wait times will depend on region and player activity.
Why Embark is testing the option
Embark describes the test as a way to offer an alternative to PvP encounters, collect feedback, and examine how the toggle affects both PvE and PvPvE sessions. The company says PvE sessions do not affect players’ PvPvE matchmaking ratings. It has described this as a limited test, not a commitment to a permanent PvE mode. In September, Embark said the intent was not to make PvE more challenging or introduce new PvE progression, but to give players an alternative to PvP encounters and listen to feedback after the test.
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- Use cunning strategy and tactics to tame, train, ride and breed the 100+ dinosaurs and other primeval creatures roaming the dynamic, persistent ecosystems across land, sea, air, and even underground Build your character's strengths and gain items, skills, and pet creatures using in-depth role-playing systems
- Start a tribe with hundreds of other players to survive and dominate competing tribes...and ultimately discover ARK's true purpose
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Embark also reported that 37% of players were classified as friendly co-op players, 27% as mixed players, and 34% as pure PvP players; it said 51% of its surveyed player base was interested in a dedicated PvE option. These are company-reported survey figures published in 2026. Embark’s cited announcement does not state the survey’s sample size or methodology, so the percentages should not be treated as independently verified population estimates.
What is known about a permanent PvE mode?
In an October 9 interview, executive producer Aleksander Grøndal said Embark had wondered whether opening the door to this option was the right move. Asked about a possible long-term split between PvE and PvPvE versions, he said it was “very possible.” That describes a possibility, not a confirmed plan. The current test is the basis for feedback and data collection, not proof that separate permanent versions will follow.
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