Embark Studios is putting a purely PvE version of its online shooter Arc Raiders to the test, running a limited matchmaking trial from October 13-20, 2026 that lets players flip between the game’s signature PvPvE chaos and a calm, player-to-player-damage-free co-op experience. The developer says the experiment is a direct response to mounting community feedback, with a majority of its playerbase expressing a desire for fewer hostile encounters and a meaningful share actively requesting a dedicated PvE option. While the studio stresses the trial is temporary and offers no guarantee of a permanent mode, the toggleable approach marks a notable shift in how the developer is thinking about the game’s social design.
The mechanics of the test are deliberately simple: during the trial window, players can switch at will between the classic PvPvE experience and a PvE-focused session, with the developer promising seamless transitions so a relaxed solo run can flow straight into a high-tension match. In PvE mode, there will be zero player-to-player damage, and sessions will be built around the ARC threat and cooperative social dynamics. The trial will support Solos, Duos and Trios within the same session, and Embark has confirmed that a player’s PvPvE matchmaking rating will remain untouched while they play PvE. Certain high-tension content—Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate and Frigate—will be excluded from the PvE matchmaking test, as these modes rely on the uncertainty of encountering a variety of players.
A Toggle, Not a Promise
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding the trial, Embark has been clear that this is, at least initially, a limited test. When the window closes, the toggle will be removed and matchmaking will return to normal. The developer frames the exercise as a data-gathering effort rather than a commitment to a permanent feature, noting that future PvE modes may look quite different from this toggle model.
“To make a long story short, we’re going to be running a test with a PvE matchmaking toggle. This is how it will work: The test will run from October 13-20, 2026. During the test, you will be able to toggle between the classic Arc Raiders PvPvE experience and the PvE experience. In the PvE experience there will be zero player-to-player damage, and the session is purely focused on the ARC threat and co-op social dynamics. PvE sessions will include Solos, Duos and Trios in the same session. We’re designing the system for seamless switching, play PvE for a relaxed solo session then switch back to PvPvE for a high tension match. Some major conditions, Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate and Frigate will be excluded from the PvE matchmaking test. These are designed with higher tension in mind and rely on the uncertainty of encountering a variety of players. Your PvPvE matchmaking rating will not be affected while playing in PvE sessions. It’s important to remember that this is, at least initially, a limited test. When the test ends, the toggle will be removed and matchmaking will return to normal. Your feedback and data will help to shape the future of this system.”
Embark Studios
From a design standpoint, the toggle is a clever compromise. Everything about a match stays largely the same—maps, progression, the ARC threat—except that players cannot damage one another. Embark has indicated that loot will be slightly less valuable in PvE sessions to account for the lower risk players take on, preserving a sense of reward without the danger of being ambushed by other humans.
Reading the Data
The decision appears rooted in a fascinating community split that Embark has openly shared. According to the studio, roughly 37% of its playerbase consists of friendly co-op players—a group that has grown consistently since launch—while 27% are mixed players and 34% are pure PvP players, a segment that has remained stable since the game’s release. Perhaps most telling is the survey data: over 70% of friendly players and even 40% of PvP players say they want fewer hostile encounters, and 51% of the surveyed playerbase has expressed interest in a dedicated PvE option.
Embark has pointed to clear friction points, with friendly players frequently attempting to avoid PvP entirely and certain groups voicing frustration around ratting and camping. The developer’s own words capture the reasoning behind the trial:
“We have to respect that some players want to enjoy the game in their own way, and we can’t ignore what the data is telling us.”
Embark Studios
For the broader community, the trial arrives after a period of hesitation from the developer about how much it wanted to bend the game’s core PvP identity. Arc Raiders has always leaned into the tension between human conflict and the shared ARC threat, and the toggle offers a way to honor that identity while acknowledging that not every player wants to be on the receiving end of a crosshair. Whether the experiment yields a permanent PvE mode, a refined toggle, or simply valuable data remains to be seen—but for now, players have a rare chance to experience the game exactly as they’ve been asking for.
Looking Ahead
Players who want to try the PvE experience should plan to log in between October 13 and October 20, 2026, and keep an eye on official channels for the exact toggle activation. Embark has made clear that participation is voluntary and that the toggle will disappear once the trial concludes, so the window is a limited opportunity to test the concept firsthand. The developer will reportedly use the resulting feedback and data to shape the future of the system, meaning the October trial could be the first step toward a more permanent solution—or simply a valuable lesson in balancing a live-service title’s competing player needs.
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