Yes, but only temporarily as of October 17, 2026. Embark Studios is running a PvE matchmaking beta from October 13 through October 20 that sets player-to-player damage to zero. Outside that test, playing solo still means entering the online PvPvE game alone; other Raiders can attack you, and there is no offline mode or permanent PvE-only queue documented.
The short answer
ARC Raiders is fundamentally an online extraction game built around two simultaneous threats: AI-controlled ARC machines and other human Raiders. You can queue by yourself, but a solo queue is not a protected server. Unless the temporary PvE matchmaking toggle is active for your session, another player may shoot you, ambush you, steal an objective or contest your extraction.
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The only official way to guarantee zero Raider-versus-Raider damage is Embark’s time-limited PvE beta, scheduled for October 13–20, 2026. In that test, you select a PvE matchmaking option instead of the classic PvPvE experience. ARC machines remain hostile, and the safer rules come with lower loot value and several activity exclusions.
Embark has not promised that a permanent PvE mode will remain after the beta. The producer overseeing the test has said it may not work and that the experiment is not a commitment to a future mode.
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What solo play means in the normal game
You can enter alone, but the world is still shared
The official description presents ARC Raiders as a multiplayer extraction adventure in which you can form a squad or operate as a lone ranger. A solo player still loads into an online match, scavenges the same objectives and extraction points, and faces the same possibility of contact with other human teams. “Solo” describes your party size, not the threat rules.
The normal experience is PvPvE: player-versus-environment combat against ARC machines takes place alongside player-versus-player encounters. You may choose to avoid people, cooperate briefly, or fight, but the game does not force other Raiders to leave you alone. The store listing identifies online PvP, online co-op and cross-platform multiplayer, so an internet connection and the live service are required.
Does solo matchmaking put you against other solo players?
Not reliably. Embark’s matchmaking notes describe a continuous playstyle signal that gradually favors players with similar behavior. If you consistently avoid shooting people, you may become more likely to share sessions with other cooperative or cautious players. A player who seeks fights may be more likely to encounter similarly aggressive Raiders.
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That signal is probabilistic rather than a lobby rule. It can make a style of play more common over time, but it does not guarantee that everyone in a match is solo, friendly or unwilling to attack. Embark explicitly says there are no “PvE-only” lobbies or servers in which other Raiders will never attack you.
Can you play offline?
No offline or pause-and-play solo mode is documented. Queueing alone does not remove the online requirement, and it does not turn the extraction game into a private session. If you need a guaranteed no-PvP run, the relevant option is the temporary PvE matchmaking test, not the ordinary solo queue.
The October 13–20, 2026 PvE matchmaking beta
How the toggle changes a session
During the beta window, the matchmaking screen offers a choice between the classic PvPvE experience and a co-op PvE experience. Select the PvE matchmaking toggle before queuing. The resulting session has zero player-to-player damage; Raiders cannot injure one another with weapons or other combat effects. The session is intended to focus on ARC machines and social cooperation rather than human firefights.
The test is time-limited. Its scheduled end is October 20, 2026, and Embark has not said that the toggle will automatically continue afterward. Menu availability can therefore depend on the live test window and any emergency changes announced by the developer.
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Solos, Duos and Trios use the same PvE session pool. A solo player may therefore enter a match containing pairs and three-player groups; choosing PvE does not create a solo-only lobby. The zero-damage rule applies across those party sizes, so a trio cannot harm your character even though it may reach the same machines, containers and extraction areas.
What remains dangerous
PvE removes human damage, not the rest of the extraction game’s risk. ARC machines continue to detect, pursue and attack players. Their presence can still consume ammunition, healing items and time, and a failed run can still cost the gear or resources you brought into the expedition. Positioning, noise, route planning and extraction timing remain important even when no Raider can shoot you.
PvE beta trade-offs
| Factor | Normal solo PvPvE | PvE matchmaking beta |
|---|---|---|
| Human-player damage | Possible; other Raiders may attack | Disabled; player-to-player damage is zero |
| Session composition | Standard live matchmaking | Solos, Duos and Trios share the same PvE session |
| Loot value | Standard value for the normal rotation | Reduced to compensate for safer runs |
| Map and activity conditions | Normal rotation, including the game’s available high-risk conditions | Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate and Frigate are excluded during the test |
| PvPvE matchmaking rating | Normal PvPvE play affects the relevant rating | Playing PvE does not affect PvPvE matchmaking rating |
| Availability | Core online experience | Scheduled beta, October 13–20, 2026; no permanent continuation promised |
Which option fits your goal?
If you want zero chance of being shot by another player
Use the PvE toggle while the beta is active. Confirm that the queue is labeled for PvE before loading in. You will trade some loot value and access to the excluded conditions for certainty that another Raider cannot deal damage.
If you want the full progression and risk profile
Use normal PvPvE matchmaking. You retain the standard loot economy and normal activity rotation, but you must treat every unexplained sound, opened container and moving silhouette as a possible human encounter. A solo queue does not protect your extraction.
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If you want to practice cooperation without fighting people
PvE is the clearest fit during the test because it places solo players and parties in one no-damage environment. You can still communicate, share routes and divide machine encounters, but remember that lower loot value applies to the session.
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What happens when the beta ends?
Unless Embark extends or replaces the test, the PvE toggle should no longer be available after October 20, 2026. The documented fallback is ordinary online PvPvE: you can continue to queue solo, duo or trio, but other Raiders remain able to attack.
Embark has framed the beta as an experiment rather than a launch announcement. The producer’s statement says the test could fail and that a future version, if developed, could differ substantially. That means players should not assume that the beta’s exact rules, reduced loot, excluded activities or mixed party composition will become permanent.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.The separate “Solo vs Squads” option
A January 2026 feature in Headwinds patch 1.13.0 added a different choice for solo players at level 40 and above: entering the Squads queue alone. Successful extraction or defeat in that challenge queue grants a 20% XP bonus. This is an intensified PvP option, not a safe alternative to PvP; you are deliberately entering matches designed around squad encounters.
The available documentation confirms that the feature was added in that patch, but it does not establish whether a later update changed, renamed or removed the toggle. Treat it as a documented patch feature rather than a guaranteed current menu item. If it appears in your client, read its current tooltip and requirements before enabling it.
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Why Embark is testing a PvE queue
Embark’s player-behavior figures explain the demand for a less hostile option. In its 2026 survey, the studio reported 37% friendly co-op players, 27% mixed players and 34% pure PvP players. Fifty-one percent of the surveyed player base expressed interest in a dedicated PvE option. More than 70% of friendly players and 40% of PvP players said they wanted fewer hostile encounters.
Those figures indicate interest, not a promise about the final design. A PvE queue changes population distribution, loot incentives, matchmaking, extraction pressure and the social balance between cooperation and betrayal. The beta lets Embark observe those effects before deciding whether and how to offer a lasting mode.
Practical checks before you queue
- Check the date: the guaranteed no-player-damage test is scheduled only for October 13–20, 2026.
- Read the queue label: normal “solo” means alone in a PvPvE match; it does not mean protected or offline.
- Verify the toggle: select PvE matchmaking if you require zero Raider damage, and confirm that the queue has not reverted to PvPvE.
- Expect mixed party sizes: PvE sessions can contain Solos, Duos and Trios together.
- Plan for ARC machines: no PvP damage does not make the run risk-free; machines can still down you and consume supplies.
- Account for reduced rewards: PvE beta loot value is lower than in the standard experience.
- Check activity availability: Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate and Frigate are not part of the PvE test.
- Do not expect rating transfer: PvE play leaves PvPvE matchmaking rating unaffected.
- After October 20: assume normal PvPvE rules unless Embark announces an extension or a new mode.
Bottom line for common questions
You can play ARC Raiders alone at any time, but ordinary solo matchmaking is still online PvPvE and can place you against hostile players. As of October 17, 2026, the temporary PvE matchmaking beta is the only official way to guarantee zero player-to-player damage. It supports mixed Solos, Duos and Trios, keeps ARC machines dangerous, lowers loot value and excludes four named conditions. Its continuation beyond October 20 is undecided, so there is no documented permanent offline or PvE-only mode to rely on.
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