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ARC Raiders’ CEO Says Embark Must Support Both PvE and PvP Players

Patrick Soderlund and executive producer Aleksander Grøndal discussed the game's PvE roots and recent trial, but did not confirm a permanent mode.

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An armed Raider runs through a dusty street as an explosion erupts nearby and a flying machine passes overhead in ARC Raiders.

Embark Studios says it needs to support both PvE and PvP audiences in ARC Raiders, but CEO Patrick Soderlund and executive producer Aleksander Grøndal did not confirm a permanent PvE mode.

In an interview with The Game Business, Soderlund said the studio’s audience had grown enough that it needed to “listen and cater for both camps, so to say.” He also said ignoring players who want a PvE-focused experience would be unwise, while Embark still aims to stay true to the game it built.

Grøndal described ARC Raiders as a game that began as PvE before Embark reset it into the PvPvE extraction shooter it is today. Soderlund said PvP brings tension that helps define the experience, but added that the team had tried PvE and was open to letting players choose what they prefer.

The remarks follow Embark’s weeklong PvE matchmaking test, which ended Oct. 20 after more than 30 million PvE rounds. The separate queue disabled Raider-on-Raider damage, reduced overall loot value and left five map conditions unavailable. Embark said it would weigh player feedback and the game’s overall health and enjoyability when deciding what comes next.

Would you want a permanent PvE queue alongside the PvPvE raids? Follow how Embark handles both audiences on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.

ARC Raiders is a multiplayer extraction adventure, set in a lethal future earth, ravaged by a mysterious mechanized threat known as ARC. Enlist as a Raider and scavenge the surface to thrive in a desolate world. But beware of the machines. Beware of Raiders preying on others.

ARC Raiders blends the tension from extraction shooters with atmospheric settings from the adventure genre. Lurking threats—from deadly machines to other Raiders—create a constant ebb and flow of intensity, where every moment is charged with the thrill of high stakes. Extract valuable loot and explore the unfolding mysteries of a vibrant, lethal world.

ARC Raiders supports seamless social play across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. Play with your squad and thrive as a team, or rise in the ranks as a lone ranger.