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ARC Raiders’ PvE Test Has Some Players Missing the Threat of Other Raiders

An informal review of more than 1,100 YouTube comments leaned positive, while players also raised concerns about reduced loot and interference from other Raiders.

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

ARC Raiders’ limited PvE matchmaking test is underway through Oct. 20, and reactions show that removing Raider-on-Raider damage changes what players want from a raid. An informal review of more than 1,100 YouTube comments by Insider Gaming found that positive responses far outnumbered objections. The video drew more than 800 comments in its first 12 hours, but its creator cautioned that YouTube recommendations may have reached people already inclined to appreciate PvE. The comments are a sample, not a vote from the full player base.

Many supportive commenters described returning after a break or enjoying a calmer co-op experience with a spouse, children, or other family. Others welcomed the chance to explore and fight ARC enemies without constantly watching for hostile Raiders. The appeal appears to be a lower-pressure way to play, rather than a demand to remove PvP from the game entirely.

Embark began the test on Oct. 13. It disables Raider-on-Raider damage, lowers overall loot value, and leaves five map conditions unavailable in PvE matchmaking. Embark is gathering feedback rather than committing to a permanent queue, as outlined in the limited PvE test rules. ARC enemies remain a threat, but taking player gunfire out of the equation changes what carries the pressure of a raid.

One player who had wanted PvE said they regretted the mode after two matches.

I wanted PvE so much and after 2 games I regret it so much
byu/Jirezagoss inArcRaiders

Other complaints focus on the friction that remains between players. Some commenters described Raiders rushing ARC encounters to take rewards, while one complaint described players using body checks to knock Raiders off ledges, block looting, and disrupt extraction. Removing friendly fire does not remove every way to interfere with another player’s run.

PVE is insufferable.
byu/skrawburryy inArcRaiders

Positive reactions were not limited to the broader comment review. One player said ARC encounters felt about as frequent as in regular matches and loot seemed scarcer, but still described the test as fun.

New PvE mode : I am having a blast..
byu/Dear_Cow6 inArcRaiders

Streamer and creator LoochyTV had a different read after a few raids. He pointed to ARC enemies dying quickly, players converging on the same loot, and a loss of tension, describing the mode as “hollow.”

PVE mode in ARC Raiders kinda got boring after a few raids.

ARC dies extremely quickly, people are all trying to loot the same thing, and there was a complete lack of tension.

I don’t think PVE is necessarily a BAD idea either…

But the reality is ARC Raiders doesn’t have a…

— Loochy (@LoochyTV) October 13, 2026

If Embark makes PvE permanent, suggestions raised in the comment review include keeping PvE and PvPvE progression and stashes separate, instancing loot, making ARC enemies denser or tougher, removing player collision, and giving PvE players access to the same content, map conditions, and rotations. Those are proposals, not announced changes.

What should Embark address first if the PvE option stays, loot access, player interference, or the pressure of ARC encounters? Follow the trial and the feedback around its future 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.