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ARC Raiders PvE Test Runs Oct. 13 to 20 Without Promising a Permanent Mode

The test lowers loot value, disables Raider-on-Raider damage and player-targeted stun and fire items, and excludes five map conditions.

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ARC Raiders PvE Test Runs Oct. 13 to 20 Without Promising a Permanent Mode

ARC Raiders’ limited PvE matchmaking test runs from October 13 at 11:00 CEST through October 20 at 11:00 CEST. Players can choose between PvE servers and the usual PvPvE raids before queueing. Embark is gathering data rather than promising a permanent option, and its official test details say players will receive a survey after the trial to share their experience and what should happen next.

Embark tested a PvE-focused map condition in China in July. October’s test brings a PvE queue to the Western game for a limited window.

PvE servers disable Raider-on-Raider damage, and stun and fire throwables cannot affect other players. Barricades and ziplines still work. Overall loot value is lower, and matchmaking will not prioritize separating squads by size, so groups of different sizes may meet more often.

Five map conditions will not offer PvE matchmaking: Night Raid, Locked Gate, Hidden Bunker, Frigate, and Redirection. Frigate arrived with the Frozen Trail 2.0 update on October 8. Embark also says queue times may be affected in low-population regions and during quiet hours, which it will monitor.

Downed Raiders face a changed threat from ARC enemies, too. In standard PvPvE raids, ARC enemies ignore downed players. During the PvE test, a downed Raider has an eight-second grace period before ARC enemies may reacquire them. After that, they may attack if they catch a Raider moving. Staying still avoids triggering that movement-based response, while moving can draw ARC enemies back in and potentially end the run.

Standard matchmaking remains in place for PvPvE sessions while Embark gathers data on how the PvE toggle affects those matches, before making any sweeping matchmaking changes. The test also follows an Embark survey in which 51% of respondents expressed interest in a dedicated PvE option. That figure describes the survey’s respondents, not the entire ARC Raiders player base. A 2025 Newzoo report put free-to-play PvE revenue at $113 billion, compared with $30 billion for premium games over a year. Those figures compare free-to-play PvE with premium games, not PvE with PvP.

PvP offers competition and the unpredictability of human opponents. PvE gives players more room to focus on AI threats and cooperation, with less risk from other Raiders. Lower-value loot and unavailable map conditions make clear that the test is not simply the same raid without player combat. Offering both options could serve different preferences without making either one a threat to the other.

Bungie’s plans for Marathon take a similar approach. Permanent PvE and experimental Team Deathmatch are planned for December 8, followed by a March 2027 update intended to connect PvE, PvP, and PvEvP experiences.

Does the eight-second grace period make lower-value loot a fair trade for a queue without Raider-on-Raider combat, given that ARC enemies remain a threat? Follow the test’s feedback process and Bungie’s planned mix of PvE, PvP, and PvEvP 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.