Embark Studios has announced that it will test a player-versus-environment mode for Arc Raiders next month, giving players a temporary way to opt out of the game’s competitive combat. From October 13 to October 20, the title will feature a PvE toggle that lets players seamlessly switch between lobbies where they fight other humans and lobbies where AI-controlled enemies cannot harm them. The experiment aims to give players more choice and to gauge whether a fully disengaged PvE experience can coexist with the game’s PvP identity. In doing so, Embark hopes to learn how well the concept can operate in practice, rather than simply stress-testing the servers.
According to the studio, loot in PvE will be lower-valued than in PvP matches, reflecting the reduced stakes of the mode. Arcs will still target downed players to preserve a sense of tension, but they will ignore players who remain still, rewarding caution over recklessness. During the test window, Embark will closely monitor the player economy and matchmaking times to assess any unintended consequences. The team has been candid that the experiment carries real uncertainty, noting that it is possible the feature will not survive the trial.
A Test, Not a Stress Test
Emark has been clear that this is a genuine evaluation of a permanent feature, not a routine capacity check. “It’s possible that this will not work,” the studio said, acknowledging that a PvE toggle may never make its way into the game permanently. The decision to run the test stems from data showing that a sizable portion of the player base actively avoids or ignores combat against other players, favoring a co-op, social experience over one that pits them against real humans. Rather than dismiss these signals, Embark wants to see how the toggle performs before committing to a long-term design.
“It’s important to mention that this is not a risk-free test. The first, unlaunched iteration of Arc Raiders was conceived as a PvE game, and we have been hesitant to return to that concept. There is a risk that introducing a PvE matchmaking toggle could reduce some of the tension that the game was built around. At the same time, 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
The developer framed the situation as an ongoing dialogue between design intent and player agency. “As creators, we design a game with an intention for how we think it should be played; but after launch, it becomes the players’ game. This is one of the unique and wonderful things about making games; we build something with a specific vision, and then we get to see players finding their own ways to enjoy it.” The studio’s willingness to publicly experiment with such a significant change is notable, even if the results ultimately lead to no permanent alterations.
What the Data Reveals
Embark’s internal analytics paint a mixed but telling picture of the community. The breakdown shows 37% of players engage in friendly co-op, a group that has grown consistently since launch, while 27% fall into a mixed category and 34% remain pure PvP players, a segment that has stayed stable. Perhaps most revealing is the sentiment behind the numbers: over 70% of friendly players and even 40% of PvP players expressed a desire for fewer hostile encounters, and 51% of the surveyed player base said they would welcome a dedicated PvE option.
These figures suggest a meaningful appetite for a PvE experience, though they also underscore the tension at the heart of the test. A feature that reduces the game’s core competitive friction risks undermining the very tension Embark built into the design. The coming weeks will determine whether the community can provide the actionable feedback needed to make such a change feasible, and whether the studio is willing to reshape a live title around player demand.
Looking Ahead
The October 13 to October 20 window offers the community a rare opportunity to try the toggle firsthand and weigh in on its viability. If the experiment reveals economic or matchmaking problems, or if the tension of the core experience suffers, Embark may walk away from the concept entirely. Either way, the test marks an unusual moment of transparency from a publisher, inviting players to shape the future of Arc Raiders through direct participation. The results will likely inform not only this toggle but the broader direction of the game as it continues to evolve post-launch.
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