ARC Raiders PvE Mode: Is It Coming Back? ("Without PvE Mode, Projects and Quests Are Unplayable Due to Toxic PvP Griefers.")
Steam players are posting "Without PvE mode, projects and quests are unplayable due to toxic PvP griefers." and "Pve players are annoying". Here's what Embark has officially said about the PvE test and what happens next. MetaPatchAI didn't test anything.
Steps (what you can do now)
- Know the current status: there's no PvE toggle right now. The PvE matchmaking toggle test ran Oct 13–20, 2026. When it ended, "the toggle will be removed and matchmaking will return to normal." (Embark, Sep 24, 2026)
- Give your feedback in the PvE-test-feedback channel on the ARC Raiders Discord. Embark also sent a survey to "a representative sample" of players from Oct 22. (Embark, Oct 20)
- Watch for Embark's follow-up in November. "We expect to be able to follow up with further information in November." (Embark, Oct 20)
What the PvE test was (official)
- Players could switch between PvPvE and PvE. PvE had "zero player-to-player damage".
- Solos, Duos and Trios shared PvE sessions.
- These were excluded: Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate and Frigate.
- PvE play didn't affect your PvPvE matchmaking rating.
- PvE had lower overall loot value, and PvPvE got slightly higher baseline loot during the test.
- ARC enemies could re-target you if you crawled while downed in PvE.
- Embark: "This test is not a promise". (Sep 24 post)
What Embark said after the test
- More than 30 million rounds of PvE were played. Embark said the test "has been polarizing", and that its decision "will prioritize the overall health and enjoyability of the game." (Oct 20)
- Executive producer Aleksander Grøndal told MP1st the team is weighing whether PvE should be "a chill side mode", "a challenge mode", or "a full experience with PvE only". (Interview quote reported by MP1st and VGC; press source)
Confirmed / Not confirmed
Confirmed (Embark): the test dates, the rules, the 30M+ rounds, the feedback channels, and a follow-up expected in November. Not confirmed: whether PvE returns, in what form, or when.
Sources
- Embark, "We're testing a PvE Toggle" (Sep 24, 2026): https://arcraiders.com/news/pve-toggle-beta-test
- Embark, "PvE Matchmaking Toggle Test: Thanks for taking part!" (Oct 20, 2026): https://arcraiders.com/news/pve-test-thanks-for-playing
- Embark, Store Update 2.2.0 (Oct 20, 2026): https://arcraiders.com/news/store-update-2-2-0
- Press (interview): https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/after-experimenting-with-a-pve-mode-arc-raiders-studio-embark-says-its-figuring-out-whether-to-bring-it-back-permanently/
- Demand: https://steamcommunity.com/app/1808500/discussions/0/567049673541527685/ , https://steamcommunity.com/app/1808500/discussions/0/567049673541690492/
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