Arc Raiders tests PvE toggle next month as players avoid combat
Arc Raiders is getting a temporary PvE mode, and developer Embark Studios is letting players decide if it should stick around. According to reports from IGN and PC Gamer, a test will run from October 13 to October 20 where a matchmaking toggle lets players choose between standard PvPvE lobbies and safer ones where other humans can't damage them.
Per Embark's statement, loot in the PvE mode will be less valuable to reflect the lower risk. The studio's AI enemies, called ARCs, will also be tuned to add some tension, reportedly targeting downed players who move but ignoring those who stay still.
Rock Paper Shotgun notes the test comes because Embark's data shows a "large and growing group" of players who ignore or avoid PvP combat, preferring a purely co-op experience. The studio shared that the purely PvP player base has remained stable at 34%, while many mixed players have shifted to a full pacifist playstyle.
Embark stressed this is not a risk-free experiment. The studio said introducing PvE could reduce the tension the game was built around, but they "can’t ignore what the data is telling us." There is no guarantee the mode will become permanent.
The test will also monitor the in-game economy and matchmaking times. Embark explicitly said, "it's possible that this will not work," framing the week as a genuine test of feasibility, not a prelude to a guaranteed launch feature.
