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ARC Raiders’ PvE Test Ended With 30 Million Rounds Played, Follow-Up Due in November

Embark said its decision would weigh the game's overall health and enjoyability, and scheduled a representative-player survey to begin Oct. 22.

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Close-up of an ARC Raiders character wearing a weathered helmet with glowing blue lenses.

ARC Raiders’ temporary PvE matchmaking test ended Oct. 20 after more than 30 million PvE rounds. Embark expects to share more about the mode in November, after reviewing the trial data and player feedback.

Embark described the response as “polarizing” in its post-test update and said its decision will prioritize the game’s “overall health and enjoyability.” The studio scheduled a survey of a representative sample of players to begin Oct. 22, asking about the trial and how its results should inform what happens next. Players can also submit feedback in the PvE-test-feedback channel on Embark’s Discord server.

ARC Raiders began development as a cooperative PvE looter before Embark changed direction to a PvPvE extraction shooter, a history that informs the question of how a permanent PvE mode could fit the game. In a post-test interview with MP1st, executive producer Aleksander Grøndal said some players want to play without the stress of human opponents, while raising the challenge of supporting them without undermining the game’s premise. The studio had previously been skeptical about returning to PvE for historical reasons.

Grøndal’s possible formats include a lower-pressure side mode between more intense PvPvE raids, an AI challenge, or a full PvE experience. Each option would affect how Embark builds future updates, and the studio wants to understand what players need before deciding on content. Servicing multiple modes is also a development concern, so a permanent PvE option would involve more than adding a separate queue.

The weeklong trial ran from Oct. 13 to Oct. 20, offering a separate PvE queue alongside standard PvPvE raids. Raider-on-Raider damage was disabled, overall loot value was reduced, and five map conditions were unavailable, as described in the trial breakdown. In standard raids, Raiders compete for gear, and a player fight can draw ARC enemies into the action. Removing Raider combat changes that pressure, while the reduced loot value and unavailable map conditions made the trial a different offer from the usual queue.

ARC Raiders Update 2.2.0 also arrived on Oct. 20 with bug fixes and improvements detailed in Embark’s Update 2.2.0 post.

Which form of PvE would fit best alongside ARC Raiders’ PvPvE raids? Follow the discussion as Embark weighs the trial feedback and the possible formats 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.