ARC Raiders developers relent, announce weeklong trial for PvE-only mode
Embark Studios announced a weeklong PvE-only trial for ARC Raiders running Oct. 13-20, letting players choose co-op-focused matches against ARC enemies instead of PvPvE. The decision follows community demand and player d…
Embark Studios will trial a PvE-only matchmaking toggle in ARC Raiders for one week next month, responding to persistent calls from players who want nothing to do with PvP.
The Test
The trial runs from Oct. 13 to 20. During that window, players can pick between the standard PvPvE mode or a PvE experience centered entirely on cooperating to take down ARC threats, complete quests, and extract loot. The move mirrors Marathon, another extraction shooter that is also adding a PvE option later this year.
The Backstory
PvE-only mode has been a long-running community demand, and Embark's explanation reveals why the request carries weight. The studio originally conceived ARC Raiders as a raid-based PvE co-op game with looting mechanics. That concept stalled, the project was reset, and the team rebuilt it as the high-tension PvPvE extraction game that shipped.
After launch, though, the audience turned out broader than expected. "It wasn't just extraction shooter fans who came to the Rust Belt, but a wide array of different players finding unique ways to enjoy the world," Embark said, describing the game as the "Extraction (Don't) Shooter."
Why Embark Is Acting Now
The studio shared its player breakdown: 37 percent friendly co-op players (a share that has grown since launch), 34 percent pure PvP players (stable since launch), and 27 percent mixed. The co-op segment is not only the largest but expanding — the key factor behind the test.
"We're seeing a large and growing group of Raiders who come to the Rust Belt for the co-op and the ARC, not fighting with other Raiders," Embark said. "That group has become a core part of our community, so it's important we learn how to support them properly rather than leave them working around the game."
What Comes Next
The PvE test begins just days after the Frozen Trail update arrives, which adds a new map, three new ARC enemy types, new weapons, and more. The trial's outcome — whether it becomes a permanent mode — has not been announced, but the weeklong experiment will show whether co-op players can sustain their own matchmaking pool.
ARC Raiders is developed and published by Embark Studios. No sales figures or review scores are cited in this announcement.
FAQ
When does the PvE-only trial take place?
The trial runs for one week, from October 13 to 20. During that window, players can choose between the standard PvPvE mode and the PvE-only experience.
What can players do in the PvE-only mode?
In the PvE experience, everything centers on cooperating with others to take down ARC threats, complete quests, and extract loot — with no fighting against other players.
Will the PvE mode become permanent?
That has not been announced. The weeklong trial is meant to show whether co-op players can sustain their own matchmaking pool, and the outcome will determine what happens next.
Why is Embark Studios testing this now?
Because a large and growing part of the player base wants co-op only: 37 percent of players are friendly co-op players (the largest and expanding segment), 34 percent pure PvP, and 27 percent mixed. The co-op-focused group has become a core part of the community.
What is ARC Raiders, and who makes it?
ARC Raiders is a high-tension PvPvE extraction game developed and published by Embark Studios. It was originally conceived as a raid-based PvE co-op game before being rebuilt into its current form.
TagsGame UpdatePvEArc RaidersEmbark StudiosExtraction Shooter
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