Arc Raiders Adds Opt-In PvE Test After Players Prove Too Friendly to Fight

Embark Studios is adjusting Arc Raiders to fit the way many people actually play it. The developer has announced a matchmaking test that lets players opt into a PvE version of the game, with no player-versus-player violence.

The reason is simple. A growing portion of the playerbase appears to have little interest in attacking other raiders. Plenty of players head out on runs to fight the machine threats, loot, and extract, and they would rather wave at strangers than ambush them. The new mode gives that group a way to play without worrying about being shot in the back at the extraction point.

Arc Raiders built its identity on tension. Every encounter with another squad could turn into a firefight or a truce, and that uncertainty was a large part of the appeal. But it also meant that players who wanted a calmer experience were still forced into a risk they did not enjoy. Splitting matchmaking is Embark's way of keeping both crowds happy without changing the core game for those who like the danger.

The studio is calling this a test, not a permanent feature. That framing suggests Embark wants to see how the queue behaves before committing. Key questions include how many players choose PvE, whether the standard mode keeps enough people to stay lively, and whether the friendly lobbies feel rewarding without the threat of other players.

There are also design concerns to watch. If PvE runs are safer, the balance of rewards between the two modes will matter a great deal. Players will be quick to notice if one path is clearly more efficient for loot or progression, and that can pull the whole community toward it. How Embark handles that will likely decide whether the option stays.

For now, the test is a sign that the developer is listening to how its community behaves, not just how it expected players to behave. For anyone who has ever spent a match hoping the other squad was feeling generous, a dedicated space for that is a welcome idea.