ARC Raiders PvE Mode: Is There a PvE-Only Option?
November 9, 2026 · 6 min read
On this page
- ARC Raiders PvE mode at a glance
- What the PvE toggle test changed
- Map conditions that stayed PvPvE only
- Why Embark tested a PvE option
- What happened after the test
- How to meet fewer hostile Raiders right now
- Frequently asked questions
- Does ARC Raiders have a PvE mode?
- When was the ARC Raiders PvE test?
- Will ARC Raiders get a permanent PvE mode?
- Is there less loot in ARC Raiders PvE?
- Could ARC attack you while downed in PvE?
- Are there friendly lobbies in ARC Raiders?
No, not right now. As of November 9, 2026, ARC Raiders has no permanent PvE mode. Embark Studios ran a limited PvE matchmaking toggle test from October 13 to October 20, 2026, then removed the toggle and returned matchmaking to normal. Embark has said it will share what comes next in November.
Last checked: November 9, 2026.
ARC Raiders PvE mode at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is there a PvE-only mode today? | No. Every raid is PvPvE, so other Raiders can still attack you. |
| Was PvE ever playable? | Yes, as a one-week test of a PvE matchmaking toggle |
| Test dates | October 13 (11:00 CEST) to October 20 (11:00 CEST), 2026 |
| Rounds played in PvE during the test | More than 30 million, according to Embark |
| What happens next | Embark said it expected to follow up in November 2026 |
These details come from Embark's official PvE toggle announcement, its pre-test checklist and its post-test update.
What the PvE toggle test changed
During the test, a toggle let you switch between the normal PvPvE experience and new PvE servers. You could flip back and forth between rounds. In PvE servers:
- Raiders couldn't damage each other. Player-to-player damage was turned off completely.
- Throwables didn't affect other players. Stun and fire items, for example, did nothing to other Raiders. Barricades, ziplines and other physical items still worked as usual.
- Loot was worth less. Embark lowered the overall loot value to balance out the lower risk.
- Squad sizes mixed. Solos, duos and trios could land in the same session more often.
- ARC could finish off downed players. ARC ignored you for an 8-second grace period after you went down. After that, they could target you again if they caught you crawling. Staying still kept you safe.
- Your normal matchmaking was untouched. Playing PvE rounds didn't change your PvPvE matchmaking rating.
Map conditions that stayed PvPvE only
Some major map conditions are built around the tension of meeting other Raiders, so Embark kept them out of PvE matchmaking. The final list before the test was:
- Night Raid
- Locked Gate
- Hidden Bunker
- ARC Frigate
- Redirection
If you want to know what these conditions do, see our ARC Raiders maps and map conditions guide.
Why Embark tested a PvE option
In its September 24, 2026 announcement, Embark explained that ARC Raiders started life about seven years earlier as a raid-based PvE co-op game. The team later reset the project and rebuilt it as the PvPvE extraction game that launched on October 30, 2025.
After launch, Embark noticed many players treating it as an "extraction (don't) shooter." The studio shared how its player base splits by preferred playstyle:
| Player group | Share of players |
|---|---|
| Friendly co-op players | 37% (growing since launch) |
| Mixed players | 27% |
| Pure PvP players | 34% (stable since launch) |
Embark also said that 51% of surveyed players were interested in a dedicated PvE option. Over 70% of friendly players and 40% of PvP players wanted fewer hostile encounters.
Embark was open about the risks. A PvE toggle could reduce the tension the game was designed around. It could also lengthen queues in low-population regions or at quiet hours. To keep the economy fair during the test, PvPvE sessions got slightly higher baseline loot.
What happened after the test
The test ended on October 20, 2026. Embark said the test had been "polarizing" and that it needed time to dig into the data. It collected feedback through a dedicated Discord channel and sent a survey to a sample of players starting October 22.
Embark's own post said it expected to follow up in November. In interviews since then, Embark's leadership has said the test showed a PvE option can work, but that the studio wants to protect the PvPvE tension at the heart of the game. As of November 9, 2026, no permanent PvE mode or release date has been announced.
Embark's original announcement also set expectations: the test was not a promise of a future PvE mode, and any future version could look very different from the test.
How to meet fewer hostile Raiders right now
Without a PvE toggle, your best tool is the regular matchmaking system. Embark explained how it works in its notes on the matchmaking system from May 2026:
- Matchmaking looks at your playstyle. It places you on a scale from very cooperative to very PvP-focused. You're more likely, but never guaranteed, to meet Raiders close to you on that scale.
- Changes are gradual. One shot or one kill won't suddenly push you into aggressive lobbies. The system looks at patterns over time.
- Defending yourself counts differently. Since May 2026, starting a fight and fighting back are treated differently, so cautious players aren't flagged as PvP players for protecting themselves.
- Some things don't matter. Your loadout, the end-of-round survey, looting knocked-out Raiders and your crossplay setting don't change how friendly your lobbies are.
- Squads count as a group. Every member shapes the squad's profile, not only the leader.
In practice, that means the best way to get calmer lobbies is to play calmly over many rounds. Use proximity chat or the emote wheel to signal that you're friendly, avoid opening fire first and give other Raiders space at extraction points.
Keep in mind that Embark has said there are no "PvE-only" lobbies in the normal game. Even in friendly lobbies, someone may still attack you, so protect valuable loot with your Safe Pocket. Our ARC Raiders beginner guide explains what you keep and lose when you go down.
Frequently asked questions
Does ARC Raiders have a PvE mode?
Not currently. As of November 9, 2026, all raids are PvPvE, and the PvE toggle was only available during a one-week test in October 2026. Embark has said it is still deciding what to do next.
When was the ARC Raiders PvE test?
The PvE matchmaking toggle test ran from October 13 to October 20, 2026, starting and ending at 11:00 CEST. Embark says players logged more than 30 million PvE rounds during that week.
Will ARC Raiders get a permanent PvE mode?
Nothing has been confirmed. Embark said the test was not a promise of a PvE mode, but a sign it is seriously considering one. The studio said it expected to share more in November 2026.
Is there less loot in ARC Raiders PvE?
Yes, during the test. Embark lowered overall loot value in PvE servers to make up for the lower risk, and gave PvPvE servers slightly higher baseline loot while the test ran.
Could ARC attack you while downed in PvE?
Yes, after a short delay. ARC ignored downed players for 8 seconds, but after that they could target you again if you moved. Staying still kept them off you.
Are there friendly lobbies in ARC Raiders?
Not as a separate setting. Matchmaking tends to group you with Raiders whose past playstyle is similar to yours, so playing cooperatively over time makes friendly encounters more likely, but never guaranteed.
