Players have finally received an answer to one of the community’s longest-running requests. The ARC Raiders PvE mode is coming to a limited matchmaking test in October. Embark Studios will temporarily allow players to turn off PvP and enter raids where the main threat comes from the ARC machines rather than other Raiders. The test will run from October 13 to October 20, 2026.
Why Is Embark Testing PvE?
There is an interesting twist to the story: ARC Raiders was originally supposed to be a very different game.
According to Embark, the project was initially conceived around seven years ago as a cooperative PvE game built around raids and looting. However, the concept ran into significant development challenges, and the studio eventually rebooted the project as the PvPvE extraction adventure players know today.
After launch, however, Embark noticed that a significant part of the player base was not particularly interested in constant PvP encounters.
The studio’s data shows that 37% of players fall into the “friendly co-op” category, while 27% have a mixed playstyle and 34% are primarily PvP-focused. Embark also found that more than 70% of friendly players and around 40% of PvP players would prefer to encounter hostile players less often. In addition, 51% of surveyed players said they were interested in a dedicated PvE option.
How Will the PvE Mode Work?
During the test, players will be able to choose between the standard PvPvE experience and the new PvE matchmaking option.
The biggest change is simple: player-to-player damage will be completely disabled in PvE sessions. Other Raiders will not be able to shoot or kill you, allowing players to focus entirely on fighting ARC machines and exploring the world.
The cooperative side of ARC Raiders will still be there. Solo players, duos and trios will be able to participate in the same PvE sessions. The goal is to create a more relaxed experience centered around fighting ARC, exploring locations, gathering resources and interacting with other players.
Embark is also designing the system so players can switch between the two experiences easily. Someone could play a relaxed PvE session and then return to PvPvE when they want a more intense raid.
Not every gameplay condition will be available during the test, though. Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate and Frigate are being excluded because they were designed around higher tension and the uncertainty of encountering other players. PvE sessions will also have no impact on a player’s PvPvE matchmaking rating.
Is PvE Coming Permanently?
Not yet.
Embark has made it clear that the October feature is a limited test, not a confirmation that a permanent PvE mode is coming to ARC Raiders.
Once the experiment ends, the developers will examine player feedback and gameplay data before deciding what happens next. If the studio keeps the feature, the final version could also be significantly different from the October test.
That makes the upcoming week particularly important. ARC Raiders was originally designed around the tension created by other players, the risk of losing loot and the constant possibility of an unexpected encounter. A dedicated PvE option could significantly change how some players approach the game.
At the same time, it gives players who enjoy the world, exploration and fighting ARC machines a way to experience the game without constantly worrying about another Raider opening fire.
The ARC Raiders PvE mode will be tested from October 13 to October 20, 2026. The results of the test will help Embark decide whether PvE should become a permanent part of the game’s future.
